Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 28) — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Monday pledged to help laid off overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia in receiving their financial aid from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
“Ang pangako namin, walang false expectations, walang bolahan, kung anong makuha naming information, we will share with them, full transparency,” DMW Secretary Ople said.
[Translation: Our commitment, no false expectations, no sugar-coating, whatever information we get, we will share with them, full transparency.]
Anthony Pachag, who worked for the Rajeh H. Al Marri and Sons Company (RHM), said Ople wanted to coordinate with OFWs themselves to fast track the processing of their Financial Relief Assistance Program (FRAP) since some have yet to receive theirs.
“Ang pinangako pa lang nila sa amin yung kuhanin yung mga pangalan, kasi sa labor naman namin sa Saudi, kumpleto naman yang pangalan ng tao na yan. 180 katao yan ng RHM na mga Pilipino,” he added.
[Translation: They promised to get our names first, but at the labor department of Saudi Arabia, they have the complete names of people. There were 180 Filipinos working for RHM.]
Migrante International chairperson Joanna Concepcion added that the DMW is keen on helping OFWs who have not yet received their FRAP amounting to ₱10,000 and livelihood assistance of ₱20,000, while talks with the Saudi Arabia government for workers’ unpaid wages and benefits are underway.
“Kaya po nagpalista kanina ‘yong staff ni Secretary Ople na pumirma po kayo, may commitment sila na iisa-isahin kayong kokontakin para sila na ‘yong makadiretso sa opisina sa OWWA,” Concepcion explained to affected workers.
[Translation: The reason why the staff of Secretary Ople asked you to sign on a list of those who have not yet received their financial assistance is so they can contact each of you to connect you directly to OWWA.]
Other DMW officials who met with Migrante International representatives and OFWs were Undersecretary for Employment and Welfare Concern and former OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac and Assistant Secretary for Land-Based Concerns Jerome Alcantara.
