ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat (PIA) -- The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has stepped up its effort to assist 60 formerly distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have returned to their respective homes in Sultan Kudarat.
Recognizing the invaluable contributions of OFWs as modern-day heroes, the DMW has released P1.8 million in financial aid to 60 OFW returnees, with each of them receiving P30,000.
Acting DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, together with Assistant Secretary Venecio Legazpi and OIC Regional Director Maria Carolina Agdamag, led the distribution of the financial assistance under the agency’s Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund during the second day of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Sultan Kudarat.
The monetary aid will help OFW beneficiaries start a new life back in their towns, said Agdamag.
According to her, each of the OFW had faced various adversities abroad, ranging from employment disputes to health issues.
The DMW’s AKSYON Fund aims to reintegrate OFWs back into society by providing them with the necessary assistance to get back on their feet with dignity and inspire them to contribute to the local economy.
“Malaking tulong po sa amin na nagbalik dito sa Pilipinas, talagang magagamit ko po ito para makapag simula ulit,” Jennilyn Cabading, a beneficiary and former OFW from Qatar, told the Philippine Information Agency.
[It's a big help to those of us who came back to the Philippines. This will help me start over.]
To her, the assistance was not just monetary in nature but symbolized the nation's gratitude for their sacrifices and hard work in foreign lands.
“Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa DMW sa pagpapa-abot ng tulong at sa gobyerno din po sa pagadala ng Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair dito sa ating probinsya,” Cabading said.
[I am also grateful to the DMW for providing assistance and to the government for bringing the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair to our province.]
The distribution of financial assistance also hoped to address the immediate needs of the OFW returnees and help them cover essential expenses such as healthcare, housing, and even startup capital for small businesses.
The DMW also noted that its programs for OFWs reaffirm the Philippine government's dedication to their welfare, acknowledging their contributions to the country's economy through various remittances and their role in shaping a positive image of Filipinos on the global stage. (AMB - PIA Region 12)
