Jan 31, 2026 | News
DOHA, Jan 30, 2026 – The BMKQ executive officers and committees convened on Saturday to consolidate their strategic plan for 2026, holding action planning sessions at the Ministry of Labor’s Al Huda Tower in Westbay.
The workshop, facilitated by Dr. Raymond Carasig and Engr. Ressie Fos, was organized alongside the Workers Support and Insurance Fund (WSIF) planning sessions for the Financial Literacy Program for migrant workers in Qatar.
BMKQ outlined a series of initiatives to be rolled out throughout the year, including the full implementation of the WSIF-initiated Financial Literacy Program, expansion of membership, and a comprehensive slate of education and training activities. The organization also pledged to strengthen welfare and outreach programs, conduct paralegal trainings and awareness sessions on laws in Qatar and the Philippines relevant to migrant workers, and accelerate the digitalization of its services to enhance its online presence.
Mr. Joseph Catarungan, President of BMKQ, announced the organization’s commitment to launching programs that will benefit its members, emphasizing the importance of forging a stronger partnership with the Qatar government. The collaboration aims to create initiatives that support migrant worker communities while ensuring full compliance with Qatar’s laws and local regulations.
Mr. Catarungan reflected on a notable milestone achieved earlier this month when BMKQ, together with OFIE-M Qatar and Pinoy WISE Qatar, led an introductory session on financial education for Qatar Foundation workers. The event, held on January 17, 2026, at Qatar Foundation, was organized and initiated by WSIF, the Ministry of Labor, Qatar Foundation, and BWI, marking a significant step forward in empowering migrant workers with essential financial knowledge.
During the meeting, Mr. Catarungan called upon the executive council to actively support the organization’s 2026 goals, underscoring the vital role of volunteerism and dedication in achieving BMKQ’s mission for the year ahead.
The action plans developed during each committee’s workshop and discussions will be integrated into BMKQ’s 2026 Strategic Plan.
Jan 17, 2026 | News
DOHA, Jan 17, 2026 – More than 150 workers at Qatar Foundation took part in a multi-agency seminar on Saturday aimed at bolstering the financial, physical, and mental well-being of the country’s migrant workforce.
The event, held at Awsaj Academy within the Qatar Foundation (QF) campus, was organized through a collaboration between Qatar’s Ministry of Labour, Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund (WSIF), Qatar Foundation, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI).
Financial Empowerment
The first part of the seminar was the introduction of Financial Literacy Program for migrant workers. The initiative, spearheaded by WSIF, was launched in 19th December 2025, kicks off the milestone of empowering migrant workers in Qatar giving more focus on the blue-collar workers by educating them on financial personal and household management. WSIF has partnered with BMKQ, BWI, and IDWF in the preparation of materials and implementation of the program, while BMKQ expanded the collaboration to Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneurs Movement (OFIE-M) Qatar and Pinoy Worldwide Initiative for Investment, Savings, and Entrepreneurship (PinoyWISE) International Qatar.
Dr. Raymond Carasig, chairman of the BMKQ Education and Training Committee, provided an overview of the program’s objectives. Following the introduction, Ferlita Pabalan, President of PinoyWISE, led the first instructional module, which focused on the practicalities of managing a financial life while working abroad.
Safety and Mental Wellness
Beyond finances, the seminar addressed critical life skills. BWI representative Bimal briefed attendees on essential occupational health and safety protocols. To address the emotional challenges of migration, the group “Gulf Good Vibes” facilitated a session on stress management, providing workers with actionable tools to maintain mental health while living far from home.
Concluding at noon, the session represents the latest in a series of collaborative initiatives in Qatar aimed at strengthening support systems for the nation’s diverse international workforce.
Jan 16, 2026 | News
DOHA — The Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneurs Movement (OFIE-M) Qatar opened its 2026 activities with a leadership seminar designed to strengthen governance practices and improve coordination among its officers, board members and committees.
The half-day session, held on 16 January 2026 at Bistro Bistro in the Radisson Blu Hotel, brought together 17 participants for the workshop titled “From Roles to Results: How OFIE-M Officers and Committees Work as One.” The event was organized by the group’s Events Committee chaired by Dr. Raymond Carasig.
Engr. Ressie Fos, PMP, RMP, a senior adviser to BMKQ, served as the resource speaker. He said BMKQ’s involvement supports its advocacy for leadership development, organizational discipline and structured decision-making in migrant-led groups.
Fos delivered five modules covering leadership roles, committee functions, concept note preparation, proposal design and decision-making systems. The sessions highlighted clear role delineation, the use of governance tools such as the RACI framework, and the importance of documentation in organizational operations.
OFIE-M president Kristine Zapanta opened the program, stressing the need for stronger alignment across leadership bodies as the organization expands its initiatives for 2026.
Despite a 30‑minute delayed start, the seminar finished close to schedule after organizers shortened the break and removed interactive exercises to ensure full content delivery.
Participants later signed OFIE-M’s Terms of Reference and a Board Resolution before receiving certificates. Fos was also awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for his contribution to the group’s capacity‑building efforts.
Attendees cited the usefulness of practical governance tools, structured proposal processes and the emphasis on documentation, describing the seminar as a meaningful step toward strengthening governance capacity within the Filipino community in Qatar.
The event was OFIE-M’s first major activity of the year and set the tone for a more coordinated and strategy‑driven 2026.
OFIE-M Qatar is a development and implementation partner of the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund (WSIF) for its Financial Literacy Program for migrant workers. Recently, Carasig represented the organization in an introductory financial education session for Qatar Foundation workers organized by WSIF, the Ministry of Labor and BWI.
Dec 22, 2025 | News
Qatar’s Workers Support and Insurance Fund (WSIF) has launched a major financial literacy programme designed to strengthen money‑management skills among migrant workers, marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing efforts to support and empower its blue‑collar workforce.
DOHA, Dec 19, 2025 — Qatar’s Workers Support and Insurance Fund (WSIF) on Friday launched financial literacy programme aimed at strengthening money-management skills among migrant workers, particularly those in blue collar sectors.
The programme was unveiled at the Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha before an audience of around 150 migrant workers, many of them leaders of South Asian and African community organisations.
WSIF developed the initiative in partnership with Bayanihan ng Manggagawa sa Konstruksiyon ng Qatar (BMKQ), the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF). BMKQ also expanded its collaboration to include Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneurs Movement (OFIE-M) Qatar and Pinoy Worldwide Initiative for Investment, Savings, and Entrepreneurship (PinoyWISE) International Qatar.
SWIF Executive Director – Ms. Kholoud Al Kubaisi delivers her keynote message during the WSIF Financial Literacy Program for Migrant Workers in Qatar launching held at Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha on 19 December 2025. [Photo: WSIF]
During the launch, WSIF Executive Director, Ms. Kholoud Saif Al Kubaisi, who served as guest of honour, emphasized the program’s importance at a time when many migrant workers are seeking to build financial stability and better support their families.
Kubaisi also highlighted the significance of the occasion for BMKQ, which is marking its 10th anniversary and holding its General Assembly later in the day. “It is an honour for me to be with you on this momentous occasion,” she said, congratulating BMKQ on a decade of service. She praised the organisation’s “sustained education and organizing efforts” that have “delivered tangible benefits to Filipino workers in Qatar,” reaffirming WSIF’s commitment to supporting migrant communities nationwide.
Group photo of participants with WSIF Executive Director – Ms. Kholoud Al Kubaisi
The Financial Literacy Program features three stages, each comprising an average of seven modules. Dr. Raymond E. Carasig, BMKQ’s lead for education and training, presented the program roadmap during the event.
Participants were introduced to the first two modules under Stage 1, Module 1 – Understanding Your Financial Life Abroad and Module 2 – The Money Mindset. The sessions, facilitated by Ferlita Young of PinoyWISE International Qatar and Jayson Quizon of OFIE M Qatar, included self-assessment workshops that highlighted the importance of financial planning for migrant workers.
From L-R: WSIF Executive Director – Ms. Kholoud Al Kubaisi, Mooza Saeed Al Mosallam (WSIF), Joseph O. Catarungan (BMKQ President), and Salem Al Mohanadi of the Ministry of Labor. [Photo: WSIF]
BMKQ President Joseph O. Catarungan shared that WSIF and its partners are planning to launch a Training of Trainers (ToT) program in early 2026. This initiative will empower community organizations to tailor the financial literacy modules to their unique local circumstances, the realities in workers’ home countries, and reintegration challenges. He encouraged those interested in joining the group of trainers to sign up with the secretariat.
The Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund is a government body established under Law No. 17 of 2018 to safeguard workers’ rights in Qatar. The Fund aims to support, secure, and care for workers by ensuring they receive their financial dues, particularly in cases resolved by Labour Dispute Settlement Committees. WSIF also contributes to improving working conditions and promoting a safe and healthy work environment as part of Qatar’s broader labour reforms and its commitments under Qatar National Vision 2030.
Dec 21, 2025 | News
BMKQ celebrated its 10th founding anniversary in Doha on 19 December 2025, using the milestone gathering to kick off the WSIF Financial Literacy Program for migrant workers and elect its officers for the 2026–2027 term.
Doha, Qatar — The Bayanihan ng Manggagawa sa Konstruksiyon ng Qatar (BMKQ), one of the country’s largest Filipino construction workers’ associations, celebrated its 10th founding anniversary and held its General Assembly on 19 December 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha.
This milestone gathering also marked the official launch of the Workers Support and Insurance Fund (WSIF) Financial Literacy Program for Migrant Workers in Qatar. BMKQ serves as the lead partner in designing and implementing the initiative, working in collaboration with the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneurs Movement (OFIE M) Qatar and Pinoy Worldwide Initiative for Investment, Savings, and Entrepreneurship (PinoyWISE) International Qatar.
WSIF Executive Director – Ms. Kholoud Al Kubaisi [Photo: WSIF]
WSIF Executive Director Kholoud Saif Al Kubaisi, who graced the launch, commended BMKQ for a decade of sustained education, organising, and empowerment efforts within the construction sector. She highlighted the “tangible benefits” these initiatives have delivered for Filipino migrant workers and reaffirmed WSIF’s commitment to supporting BMKQ and other migrant-led organisations across Qatar.
Philippine Ambassador to Qatar H.E. Mardomel Celo D. Melicor also attended the event, commending BMKQ for its decade-long service to Filipino construction workers. In his message, he encouraged members to uphold transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership, values he underscored as essential amid ongoing concerns about corruption in the Philippines.
Philippine Ambassador to Qatar – H.E. Mardomel Celo D. Melicor
Philippine Ambassador to Qatar – H.E. Mardomel Celo D. Melicor, pose with officers and members of BMKQ
A key highlight of the assembly was the election of BMKQ’s officers for the 2026–2027 term. The newly elected leadership includes:
- Joseph O. Catarungan, President
- Cheryl Valientes, Vice President
- Irene Ainza, Secretary
- May Shael Laguindab, Treasurer
- Alliver Revilla, Auditor
- Myla Laja, Business Manager
- Elenie Nicomedes, Public Relations Officer
BMKQ Senior Adviser, Engr. Ressie Fos, and Adviser Engr. Meliza Ortiguerra officially announce the newly elected BMKQ officers for the 2026–2027 term.
BMKQ’s anniversary celebration and its role in launching the WSIF Financial Literacy Program signal a renewed commitment to strengthening worker empowerment, financial resilience, and community leadership among Filipino migrants in Qatar.
Dec 20, 2025 | News
DOHA, Dec 20, 2025 – The Bayanihan ng Manggagawa sa Konstruksiyon ng Qatar (BMKQ) and the Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneurs Movement (OFIE-M) Qatar have signed a partnership agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration in financial literacy programs for migrant workers in Qatar.
The agreement was formalized on December 19 at the Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha by BMKQ President Joseph O. Catarungan and OFIE-M Qatar President Kristine Marie M. Zapanta. The signing coincided with BMKQ’s 10th anniversary celebration and general assembly, as well as the launch of the Workers Support and Insurance Fund (WSIF) Financial Literacy Program for Migrant Workers in Qatar.
Photo: OFIE-M Qatar
The WSIF program, developed in partnership with BMKQ, Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), and the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), held pilot awareness sessions attended by 150 participants from South Asian and African migrant communities, many of whom were community leaders representing their organizations.
BMKQ, which leads the development of financial literacy modules and program implementation, has also engaged two Filipino organizations in Qatar recognized for their work in financial education among overseas Filipinos – OFIE-M Qatar and PinoyWISE International Qatar.
The initiative seeks to provide migrant workers with practical knowledge on financial management, savings, and investment, aiming to empower communities and reduce vulnerabilities linked to economic hardship.
