Article by:
Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is closely coordinating with other concerned national agencies to ensure immediate and proper assistance for repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFW) due to the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the Middle East.
“Patuloy ang ating koordinasyon sa Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) at sa Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) para makapag-augment tayo ng assistance sa mga repatriated na overseas Filipinos at OFWs (We are continuously coordinating with the DMW and OWWA for the augmentation of assistance for repatriated Overseas Filipinos and OFWs),” Assistant Secretary Juan Carlo Marquez of the DSWD’s Policy and Planning Group said Thursday in a media forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.
The DSWD co-spokesperson said their personnel have provided initial psychosocial intervention to the 410 repatriated OFWs during the “salubong activity” with DMW, OWWA and the Department of Health (DOH) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
He said the Department is also preparing for the possibility that more Filipinos may be repatriated in the coming days and weeks should the ongoing conflict in the Middle East escalate.
With more than 2 million OFWs currently deployed in the Gulf region, the DSWD is coordinating closely with concerned agencies to ensure that the necessary assistance mechanisms are in place for returning Filipinos.
“Tayo ay handa na tumulong. Every time na may napapauwi, parte ang DSWD sa sumasalubong [sa airport] sa ating mga kababayan kasama ng OWWA, DMW, at DOH, at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan para maipadama ang tulong ng gobyerno (We are ready to help. Every time somebody returns, the DSWD is part of the welcoming team, including the OWWA, DMW, DOH and other government agencies to make them feel the administration’s support),” Marquez said.
The DSWD is also closely coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs to obtain updated information and details regarding Filipinos who may be repatriated in the coming weeks.
Upon arrival in the Philippines, Marquez said repatriated OFWs will be immediately assessed by trained DSWD social workers to determine the appropriate form of assistance needed by the returning workers.
In addition to psychosocial intervention, financial aid may also be provided through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program and livelihood assistance through the Sustainable Livelihood Program, depending on the assessment of DSWD social workers.
“Mayroon tayong binibigay na PHP7,000 na (We are providing PHP7,000 in) assistance for the employment facilitation track. For the microenterprise development track, we’re providing PHP20,000 in seed capital for our repatriated countrymen,” he said.
Marquez also expressed gratitude for the support extended by the Singapore government in assisting in the repatriation of Filipinos and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nationals affected by the Gulf crisis.
He said Singapore has committed to provide a military aircraft to transport Filipinos and other ASEAN nationals who may need to be evacuated from affected areas in the Middle East.
“Patunay lamang ito na nagwo-work ang kooperasyon among ASEAN member states lalo na sa panahon ng crisis (This only shows that cooperation among ASEAN member states is working, especially during crisis),” Marquez said. (PNA)
Log in with Google