DMW at OWWA, inilatag ang mga hakbang at tulong para sa returning at repatriated OFWs

Transcript

00:00 The DMW and OWA have threatened to fight the government for the returning OFWs who were trapped in the chaos,

00:08 victims of the disaster or other dangers outside the country.

00:12 This is in accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s order not to let our fellow countrymen go.

00:18 This is what Mela Lesmora reported.

00:22 The Department of Migrant Workers has helped 5,325 returning OFWs this year.

00:30 This is what DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Kakdak wrote in his House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs

00:37 regarding the government's actions for the returning and repatriated OFWs

00:43 who are forced to return home after being trapped in the chaos, disaster or other dangers outside the Philippines.

00:50 According to Kakdak, P1.2 billion was allocated to their agarang karinga and to the funds for the OFWs in need or action fund for 2023.

01:01 This includes various types of assistance including financial assistance.

01:07 First, we are giving 20,000 financial assistance upon return but Secretary Tuts expected 30,000.

01:17 So we are giving 30,000 cash outright to the returning OFWs and there is a special case for those trapped in the chaos or war situations

01:32 like Sudan and Israel where we are giving 50,000.

01:38 Aside from this, the OWA also distributed their own repatriation and reintegration program for the OFWs.

01:46 Some of their activities are to assist the OFWs trapped in the chaos

01:51 until they are transported to their homes in the Philippines.

01:54 These are various types of assistance.

01:56 In order to start a new life, the OWA also has training and livelihood programs.

02:02 This is usually we provide for Filipino workers in distress.

02:09 So we ensure that we have 24/7 assistance in all international airports here in the Philippines.

02:18 In the midst of the current chaos in Israel, the DMW and OWA assured that they are constantly on the lookout for the situation.

02:26 We have 746 OFW families who asked for assistance.

02:37 It means they called our helpline, asked for assistance and their loved ones were found.

02:46 And of the 746, we counted 744.

02:51 And we are still looking for two more.

02:55 Currently, there are four remaining Filipino families trapped in the chaos in Israel.

03:00 Despite being their relatives, the government is currently helping them.

03:05 According to the order of our beloved President,

03:08 we will do everything we can to help the trapped and the families of the four trapped.

03:16 One example of assistance is that their families are talking to the OFWs' loved ones to find work.

03:25 How many loved ones are trapped?

03:28 We also contacted Secretary Benny Laguesma.

03:32 To better understand the situation of the OFWs, the other officials of their sector also discussed the situation in front of the camera.

03:41 Even though the Congress is still on a session break,

03:44 the lawmakers are still insisting that they will continue to focus on the important issue for the well-being of every Filipino.

03:52 Melales Moras for the "Bayan" (The National)