2nd BATCH SEND-OFF. Some 23 homebound Kapampangan returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) wave their Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) results during their send-off ceremony yesterday, July 15, at the Capitol Grounds here. Accompanying them is “Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga Program” Chief Implementer Angelina Blanco. Photo by Luisse Rutao/Pampanga PIO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “We were treated like VIPs.”
This was the reaction of another 23 homebound Kapampangan returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who arrived in the country last week, on the “Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga Program” initiated by Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda.
During their send-off ceremony yesterday, July 15, at the Capitol Grounds here, it was observed that the OFWs felt relieved upon receiving the ‘negative’ result of their Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
According to Jerry Cunanan, an OFW from Saudi Arabia, they were overwhelmed by the warmed welcome given by the province after their hardship of staying abroad and being away from their families for several years.
“Emosyonal po ako right now. Galing po akong Saudi. Ilang taon at buwan ko pong hindi na kasama ang pamilya ko. Sobrang mahirap lang po talaga ang sitwasyon naming mga OFW. Kaya nakakataba lang ng puso kasi noong umuwi ako, sa airport pa palang makikita mo na ang team Pampanga naka-abang sayo sinusundo ka pabalik ng probinsya,’’an emotional Cunanan shared.
Other OFWs also commended the success of the program and ‘good’ treatment extended to them from the Airport to Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital (DMMH) for swabbing and accommodation at New Clark City (NCC).
“I want to thank the governor and his team for this wonderful initiative of the provincial government. We were treated like VIPs. Naiinggit nga ang ibang OFWs sa aming mga Kapampangan. Sobrang ganda ng proyektong ito. It was really a two thumbs up,” said Rick Pangilinan, another OFW from Saudi Arabia.
Cunanan and Pangilinan, who both belonged to the second batch of Kapampangan OFWs, were ‘successfully’ released under the program of the provincial government.
Despite the feedback received, Angelina Blanco, chief implementer of the program, stressed that the provincial government is still working for further improvement of the program to provide the best repatriation experience to Kapampangan ROFs who wish to return to the country and avail the program.
“Ang programang ito ay inaalay po ng Governor natin para sa ating mga Kabalen na ROFs. Minsan hindi po natin maalis na magkaroon ng kakaunting problema. Kung mayroon pong naging problema o kakulangan sa aming parte sa kadahilanang hindi namin kontrolado ang sitwasyun, kami po ay humihingi ng inyong pangunawa. Nagsisimula pa lang po ang ating programa at kung meron kaming dapat iimprove ay gagawin po namin sa abot ng aming makakaya para mas marami pa po tayong matulungan na kabalen,” Blanco said. — Luisse Rutao/Pampanga PIO
