CEBU, Philippines - SM City Cebu recently had its formal opening of SM Global Pinoy Center to further pamper the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families, providing a complete one-stop-shop facility designed for this particular market.
The 130 square-meter Global Pinoy Center (GPC) at SM City Cebu, is the ninth Global Pinoy Center opened by SM Supermalls, out of the total 37 SM shopping malls located across the Philippines.
“SM Supermalls are privileged to play a part in the lives of the Global Pinoy as well as their families. Through the years, SM Supermalls have been the venue for reunion lunches, balikbayan shopping sprees, and catch-up bonding moments of Global Pinoy families and friends,” said Annie Garcia SM Shopping Center Management Corporation president.
Cebu ranks second in terms of OWWA-membership collections next to the National Capital Region making Cebu, one of the top five provinces in the country with the most number of OFWs.
Records show that there are over 150,000 registered OFWs in Cebu alone. Neighboring provinces like Bohol, Negros, and Siquijor also contribute to the increasing number of OFWs who come to Cebu for business and leisure.
Presently, the number of Filipinos living, working and studying overseas has ballooned to over 12 million people, which is equivalent to 11 percent of the total population of the Philippines. And based on the records of the Institute of Migration and Development, thousands of our countrymen leave and go abroad everyday.
Collectively, the Overseas Filipinos have remitted as much as $16 billion annually.
This year, this is expected to breach the US$17 billion mark. This is equivalent to the 14 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The GPC is a specialized all-in-one convenience lounge that will open in all 37 SM Supermalls nationwide. It will render services for them in a relaxed and comfortable area exclusive to its member Balikbayans, Migrants, OFWs, and their dependents.
The services in the Global Pinoy Center include free video conference calls to their OFW relatives abroad, free email and internet services. Both of these services are provided for by our Global Pinoy Partner, ABBOT TANAW, who have 27 locations where there are OFW's around the world and now have 12-13 active hubs.
The Global Pinoy Center shall also offer free financial consultation with BDO, fee entrepreneurial and livelihood training sessions with DTI and TESDA to enable the OFW and his dependents to be financially independent, allowing them to grow their hard-earned money in wise investments.
“We believe that these activities will help the dependents of the Global Pinoy to veer away from the trappings of dole-outs and dependency, and in turn teach them to become productive Filipino citizens,” Garcia said.
The Global Pinoy Center will collaborate with various government agencies such as the DOLE, OWWA, POEA, and the Department of Foreign Affairs that can offer advice on a variety of topics such as traveling to a foreign country, pre-departure orientation seminars, adjusting to a new culture, social services such as free legal assistance, and even cultural services. — Ehda M. Dagooc