CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “Bilang tugon sa mga naging pinsala ng mga nagdaang habagat at bagyo, magbibigay ng tulong ang DMW sa pamamagitan nitong Aksyon Fund sa 3,000 benepisyaryo ng tig-P5,000.”
Applause welcomed the announcement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of financial assistance to overseas Filipino workers and their families adversely affected by recent calamities during his visit at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here on Oct. 3.
The president had more in store for the OFWs that sent cheers to the rafters of the convention center: “Dahil malapit kayo sa puso ko, magbibigay din ng P5,000 ang Tanggapan ng Pangulo.”
Some 3,000 OFWs and individuals who have OFW relatives from 22 calamity-stricken towns in the province received the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (Aksyon) financial assistance.
“Sa tuwing makakasama ko ang aking mga kababayang OFW, hindi ko maiiwasan na humanga at matuwa sa kuwnbto ng inyong mga buhay,” said the president. “Hindi biro ang inyong pinagdadaanan na malayo sa pamilya, magtrabaho sa ibang lugar para sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay.”
It has become a sense of Filipino pride, Marcos Jr. said, when heads of states he visited always give the highest respects to OFWs.
“Ang gagaling ng mga Filipino workers dito sa bansa namin, napakasipag, napakabait, napaka husay,” the president said he always heard from his foreign counterparts paying tribute to the contribution of OFWs in the development of their countries.
Marcos Jr. said aside from cash aid, the OFWs can avail themselves of non-cash benefits in the form of legal, medical, and emergency assistance through the Aksyon Fund during times of crisis.
A memorandum of agreement has also been forged to fight illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
“A memorandum of agreement was recently signed between the Department of Migrant Workers, the Department of Labor and Employment, TESDA [Technical Education and Skills Development Authority], and OWWA [Overseas Workers Welfare Administration], along with local government units and the Provincial Government of Pampanga,” the president announced.
“Under this agreement, the member agencies, in partnership with the local government of Pampanga, will implement programs against illegal recruitment and human trafficking,” he added.
Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda and Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda hailed the MOA as a “strong protection for the Kapampangan workers.”
The president was joined by DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, OWWA administrator Patricia Caunan, and TESDA chief Jose Francisco Benitez. Punto News Team/Photos: PIA-3, RTVM
