Photo courtesy of PNA.
The city government of Calbayog in Samar launched an online registry on Friday to improve coordination with its residents working abroad, especially those in the Middle East.
Called the i-Konek Calbayog Registry Portal, the platform aims to create a centralized database of overseas residents to allow faster communication during emergencies.
The system was developed by the local planning and development office with the support of Mayor Raymund Uy and Vice Mayor Rex Daguman.
Officials said the portal will enable the city government to send timely advisories, updates, and information on available assistance programs.
The initiative is intended to support residents in areas affected by conflict or humanitarian crises, strengthening efforts to protect migrant workers.
Initial figures showed that at least 210 Calbayog residents in the Middle East have already registered on the platform.
Beyond crisis response, the registry is expected to keep overseas residents connected to local programs and community developments in the city.
Department of Migrant Workers acting Regional Director Lovely Aissa Velayo-Agliam welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that other local governments would adopt similar systems to better assist overseas Filipino workers.