An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who was unable to reach his destination when flights to the Middle East were cancelled and worried families of OFWs sought assistance at the help desks of the Negros Occidental and Bacolod governments on Monday, May 2.
The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday. Iran in turn fired drones and missiles toward Israel and struck US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
A Filipina caregiver has been killed in an Iranian attack on Israel.
A 34-year-old OFW from Isabela, Negros Occidental, was already in Hong Kong when his flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was cancelled, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
The Isabela man who is employed as a kitchen worker in Riyadh was sent back to Manila and has sought assistance from the provincial government help desk to return to Negros.
The provincial government is making arrangements for his return to Negros, Diaz said.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson’s instructions are to give all-out support to Negrenses affected by the unrest in the Middle East seeking help, Diaz said.
Those who seek repatriation will be assisted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and when they return to Negros, the provincial government will give some financial assistance, he said.
A mother working in the Middle East also directed her daughter to give all her contact and employer information to the provincial help desk in case she cannot be reached in the future.
The Negros Occidental OFW Help Desk and Hotline at its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) at the Capitol is open to assist Negrenses whose families, friends, and loved ones working in the Middle East are affected by the ongoing conflict, Diaz said.
In coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Provincial Government is committed to providing timely information, guidance, and support to those who may need assistance during this challenging time, he said.
Those in need of verified updates and assistance may call 0998 956 9037 or 0924 109 7705, or visit the OFW Help Desk at the Capitol, he said.
BACOLOD HELP DESK
The Bacolod City Help Desk received 60 calls from relatives of OFWs working in the Middle East, Secretary to the Mayor Marty Go said.
The majority of them were asking for assurance on whether their OFW relatives would be given government assistance if they return to the Philippines, he said.
There were also those who wanted to contact their relatives in the Middle East, Go added.
The OFWs are in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Bacolod City Help Desk is located at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby and its hotline is 0930 877 5097.
Bago City has also set up a Help Desk that can be reached at 435-3596 or 0991 776 9640.
The Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration have also set up hotlines on their Facebook pages.*
[sibwp_form id=1]