For helping residents in their community gain employment or livelihood through promotion of entrepreneurship, two overseas Filipino workers (OFW) families – one from Lipa, Batangas and another from Baleno, Masbate -- were awarded as this year’s Model OFW families.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA) 2009 winners are the Lubis family of Lipa, Batangas and the Bello family of Baleno, Masbate.

“The Lubis family represent the land-based OFW sector while the Bello family represent the sea-based OFW sector,’’ said Roque.

“These families exemplify OFWs model families in the country who have demonstrated the best practices of OFWs and their families in overcoming the challenges of migration,’’ he said.

The families were conferred the awards by Vice President Noli de Castro last Thursday.

According to the DoLE report, the Lubises headed by its patriarch, Engr. Rodofo Pita who had worked in Saudi Arabia for more than 30 years, invested their overseas earnings in various agri-business enterprises that employ more than 200 workers.

The Lubis family also developed their first Gawad Kalinga Reunion Village where residents are given employment, livelihood capital, and scholarship for their children. They also planted more than 45,000 Narra and mahogany trees as their contribution to the "Greening of the Environment.''

Captain Bello worked as a seaman for almost 29 years, starting as an ordinary seaman in 1971. His family also invested his overseas earnings in various agricultural and retail business ventures.