MWO-OWWA WDC, TFABVI CELEBRATE 30th MIGRANT WORKERS DAY IN BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

PRESS RELEASE

WDC-47-2025

16 June 2025

Embassy Press and Information Section

info@phembassy-us.org

 

The Migrant Workers Office and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MWO-OWWA) in Washington, D.C. together with The Filipino Association of BVI (TFABVI) celebrated the 30th Migrant Workers Day in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI) on 8 June 2025. More than 350 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) attended the fun-filled event meant to commemorate the signing of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, which provided a higher standard of protection to migrant workers. 

 

The celebration featured talent competition among OFWs, cultural presentations and entertainment numbers by members of the Filipino community, and raffle prizes. Archbishop Donald Reece, the Anglican Bishop of BVI, kickstarted the event with an invocation for the general wellbeing of the migrant community and their families.  

 

TFABVI president Dr. Christine Harry conveyed their appreciation to the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. through MWO-OWWA for choosing BVI as the venue of the 2025 Migrant Workers Day celebration. “This is the first time that we are commemorating this special day of migrant workers. We never had this celebration in the past,” Harry said during her opening remarks.  

 

Meanwhile, Labor Attaché Saul De Vries noted that many of our OFWs in the Caribbean are unaware of Migrant Workers Day. This is the reason why we started organizing this event in the region to make it known to the OFWs that the Philippine government values their contributions and recognizes their sacrifices. 

 

“BVI is among the Caribbean islands with relatively large concentration of OFWs. With more than 800 migrant workers, it was only fitting to bring the celebration of their special day in BVI,” said Welfare Officer Mae Codilla who spearheaded the event preparations. Codilla was assisted by Mr. Jo Mari Rifareal, Ms. Freya Palad and the members of the TFABVI.

 

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