FIRST Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos led the distribution of over P130,000 worth of financial aid to 43 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia before they were repatriated back to Manila over the weekend.
The First Lady, who has been on an official visit to Saudi Arabia since late last week, met with the 43 OFWs and eight minors who stayed at the Bahay Kalinga, a government-provided temporary accommodation in Riyadh for OFWs awaiting repatriation before their return to the Philippines last July 19.
Araneta-Marcos, during the visit to the shelter, the first time for a First Lady, exchanged stories with the OFWs and assured them of continued government aid upon their return to Manila. She also so handed luggage and travel essentials to the OFWs apart from the financial and reintegration packages from several government agencies such as the “Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay” aid and P10,000 cash assistance from OWWA; P50,000 from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW); P10,000 from the department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); and P60,000 from the Office of the President.
The OFWs, bound for the Visayas and Mindanao upon their arrival in Manila, were also provided transportation and temporary accommodation support.
Araneta-Marcos also visited the Bagong Bayani ng Mundo Serbisyo Caravan, where she met OFWs availing of services from different government agencies such as the DMW, OWWA, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Social Security System, Department of Trade and Industry, Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), Landbank, Public Attorney’s Office, and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), among others.
OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, who accompanied the First Lady, said the visit was under the “Serbisyong May Saya, Hatid ng OWWA” program.
She added that the visit of the First Lady was an affirmation of the government’s commitment to deliver not just assistance, but genuine service and meaningful action for every Filipino abroad.
