TIM eMagazine Vol.3 Issue 12
L
abor Secretary Silvestre Bello
III has assured Tuesday the
seven Filipino seafarers who
were repatriated from Libya of
government’s full assistance.
At the same time, Bello
expressed the Philippine’s
gratitude to the Tripoli
government for the help extended for the
early repatriation of the workers who have
been held in Libyan prison for nearly two
years.
The seafarers were flown back after being acquitted of fuel
smuggling by the Libyan High Court.
In an emotional reunion at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport in Pasay City, the seafarers were welcomed by their
respective families and officials led by Bello, Overseas Workers
Welfare Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, and officials of the
Department of Foreign Affairs.
To help them get back on their feet, Bello said that the
seafarers may avail from OWWA livelihood assistance and
educational scholarship for their children.
Prior to the return of the seafarers, their families each
received financial assistance worth P50,000 from OWWA.
“This is a manifestation of the government’s responsiveness
to the needs of our workers while they are out of the country
and even when they are back home to enable their quick
reintegration,” Bello said.
He also highlighted the coordination among government
agencies in the successful repatriation of the seafarers.
“Patuloy naming ipinagdasal ang aming paglaya.
Nagpapasalamat kami sa mga sangay ng gobyerno, sa aming
mga pamilya, at sa mga Pilipinong sumuporta sa amin hindi
lang dito sa Pilipinas, kung hindi maging sa Libya,” said Captain
Arthur Taleño, who is among those repatriated seafarers.
The Filipino seafarers, who have been detained in Libya for
almost two years, were among the 20 Filipinos arrested after
the Libyan Coast Guard boarded and seized the tanker M/T
Levante while anchored in international waters. www.dole.
gov.ph
POEA Administrator
Bernard Olalia
D
Bello assures aid to
7 Filipino seafarers
from Libya
Repatriated OFWs
from Kuwait to get
assistance
istressed overseas Filipino workers who were
repatriated back to the Philippines from Kuwait
will receive livelihood assistance from the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
(POEA) Administrator Bernard Olalia, representing
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, together with
officials from OWWA, welcomed 30 distressed OFWs
from Kuwait via Gulf Air on Monday, March 4, 2019.
Olalia assured the returning OFWs of necessary
assistance and legal interventions should they decide to file charges
against their Arab employers, as well as their recruitment agencies.
“We have a number of programs which we can offer to our returning
kababayan,’ one of which is the Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay, where we
will assist them in establishing their own business,” Olalia said.
Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay, is a non-cash livelihood support/
assistance which provides immediate relief to returning active or inactive
OWWA member-OFWs displaced from their jobs due to war/political
conflict in host countries, or policy reforms, controls, and changes by
host governments; or were victims of illegal recruitment and /or human
trafficking, or other distressful situations.
Under the program, the qualified OFW can receive P20,000 worth of
livelihood assistance which consists of business starter kits, tools, and raw
materials with the aim to improve their socio-economic well-being.
Most of the repatriated OFWs who have sought shelter in the Migrant
Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource Center (MWOFRC) in
Kuwait, have run away from their Arab employers due to physical and
sexual abuse, some have failed to receive proper wages and benefits as
stated in their contracts, while others were barred from contacting the
Philippine Embassy, as well as their families.
“We are very grateful to POLO OWWA in Kuwait for their assistance.
We have truly felt their help as they have continued fighting for our
rights. If OWWA will provide us with livelihood assistance, I will pursue
this first and maybe I can stay in the country for good,” Analyn, one of the
repatriated OFWs said.
Aside from providing assistance, Olalia also vowed to look into the
issues and cases of the repatriated OFWs to further understand their
condition in Kuwait and to assess other interventions needed by the
returning Filipino workers.
OWWA officers have also provided airport assistance such as
facilitation of their travel documents and screening at the Immigration
booths, and baggage claims, while those who wait for their flights back to
their respective provinces were given temporary accommodation. Other
returning OFWs who reside in the Luzon area were given transportation
assistance.
www.dole.gov.ph
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