PROTECT Project

The message did not stop in the training rooms. It traveled into barangay halls, community spaces, and everyday conversations in Cotabato City.

Through the continued rollout of BARMM GABAY, the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute Inc., with support from AWO International Southeast Asia, brought safe migration awareness directly to the people where it matters most.

What made these community rollouts powerful was not just the knowledge shared but the trust built. The discussions were open, grounded, and relatable. People asked questions they had long kept to themselves. Others stepped forward, realizing they could help guide their neighbors and families.

In these spaces, awareness turned into empowerment.

A mother now knows what to ask before her child leaves for work abroad.
A young dreamer now understands the steps to take and the risks to avoid.
A community now looks out for one another.

This is the heart of BARMM GABAY not just a module, but a movement. A movement that ensures that protection does not remain in policies or trainings alone, but is felt, understood, and practiced in every community. Because when knowledge reaches the grassroots, every dream of migration becomes safer, stronger, and more protected.

On January 20, 2026, 25 returning Overseas Filipino Workers gathered in Cotabato City for a follow-up activity under the PROTECT Project of the Blas Ople Policy Center and AWO International Southeast Asia. It was meant to check on their livelihood assistance. Instead, it became a moment of change.

At the start of the session, participants spoke about their struggles: unstable income, unclear plans, and fear that their small businesses might fail. But as the discussions continued, something shifted. They began sharing ideas, assigning responsibilities, and helping each other solve problems.

By the end of the day, the conversation changed from “What help can we still receive?” to “How can we grow together?”

Today, they track their earnings, plan collectively, and guide fellow returning workers in their communities. They are no longer just beneficiaries. They are becoming support systems for one another.

This is the heart of the PROTECT Project not only providing assistance, but building confidence, dignity, and protection against vulnerability. Because real reintegration is not a one-time aid. It is a journey we walk together.

Thank you for helping turn survival into stability.