The ACTS-OFW Partylist nominees with mayoralty candidate Alex Acuzar (in black shirt) in Samal. Photo by Ernie Esconde
SAMAL, Bataan — A woman overseas Filipino worker who was maltreated in a Middle East country where she worked as domestic helper thanked a partylist and a local businessman for helping her safely come home.
In tears, Marilou Santos of this municipality recounted her ordeal in the foreign country and expressed gratitude to the Alliance for Community Transformation and Service (ACTS-OFW) and local businessman Alex Acuzar.
Acuzar is running against re-electionist Mayor Aida Macalinao.
Santos said that she experienced maltreatment and abuse from different employers and was almost molested sexually. “Kung saan-saan ako napunta, sobrang hirap ang dinanas ko sa Middle East. Ang kontrata ko Dammam pero sa ibang lugar sa Saudi Arabia ako napunta.”
She expressed her thanks to the government, ACTS-OFW and Acuzar for helping her: “Nakauwi na ako at kasama ko na dalawang anak ko at pamilya. Wala na akong balak bumalik sa ibang bansa dahil sa Pilipinas kahit sobrang hirap kasama ko mga anak ko.”
She is now selling fish caught by her husband.
“Huwag magpadala sa salita ng mga recruiter. Saka, lakas ng loob kung sakaling mapunta sa situasyong kagaya ko. Lakasan ang loob nila, dasal lang talaga,” Santos advised those seeking employment abroad.
ACTS-OFW first nominee Imee Enriquez said that aside from welfare and protection of women, they are focused on the reintegration program in partnership with other agencies like the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
“Bibigyan namin si Marilou ng tulong upang magkaroon ng permanent na kabuhayan para hindi na mangibang-bansa pero kailangan niya itong pagtrabahuan at magsikap. Pangarap ko na hindi na mangingibang bansa ang mga kababaihan upang magtrabaho,” Enriquez said.
Acuzar said he hoped that Samal will have a training center of its own for residents to learn various skills and a cooperative that will provide financial assistance to those who have trained wishing to establish a business.
Engr. Aldrin Cardenas, ACTS-OFW third nominee, said they also assisted 20 Filipino seafarers stranded in the Port of Odessa in Ukraine. “Matapos kaming abisuhan na nangangailangan ng tulong ang 20 Filipino seafarers, agad naming tinawagan ang mga kinauukulan at ligtas na ngayon ang mga ito at naghihintay na lamang ng repatriation sa Philippine Sea.”
Enriquez, Cardenas, other nominees and supporters campaigned in Samal and other parts of Bataan on Saturday.
