By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Iloilo provincial government provided PHP 10,000 each to 15 repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) on Jan. 30 under Provincial Ordinance 2020-245. The ordinance grants financial assistance to OFWs returning home under challenging circumstances.
The recipients were part of a group of 27 repatriated workers from various municipalities. They returned to the Philippines due to reasons such as maltreatment by employers, illnesses or accidents, and political unrest in their host countries.
The financial assistance aims to ease their reintegration into local society.
In addition to the cash aid, the provincial government offers livelihood programs and business loans to help the repatriated workers start their own ventures.
The OFWs visited the office of Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. to express their gratitude. They were welcomed by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias and Public Employment Service Office (PESO) head Cynthia Dario.
Banias assured the OFWs of the provincial government’s continued commitment to supporting them as they transition back into their communities.
