By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson handed over P190,000 in financial assistance to Annabilla Alacre of Cadiz City, whose sister, Loreta Alacre, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), was slain in Israel during the conflict with Hamas last year.
The aid is part of the Provincial Migration and Development Initiatives Project of Negros Occidental, Lacson explained on Wednesday.
Loreta Alacre had been working as a caregiver in Haifa and Tel Aviv for about 15 years before she was killed on October 7, 2023, during attacks by Hamas militant fighters.
The Alacre family had previously received P500,000 in financial assistance from House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog partylist Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez.
The turnover ceremony, attended by staff members Rizalino Roxas II and Delwyn Layson, took place at the house Loreta built in Sitio Camay an, Barangay Cadiz Viejo.
In attendance were Negros Occidental 2nd District Representative Alfredo Marañon III and Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. Both Marañon and Escalante have pledged further financial and educational support to Loreta’s seven siblings and their children, whom Loreta had been supporting.
In recognition of her contributions, the city government has named a new evacuation center in Barangay Cadiz Viejo the Loreta V. Alacre Evacuation Center. This center is located at the Cadiz Viejo National High School, where Alacre completed her secondary education.
Mayor Escalante also posthumously declared Loreta Alacre a hero for her contributions to the community.
Nelia Alacre, the youngest sibling, revealed that Loreta and three other Chinese nationals were stopped and subsequently shot by Hamas militants while en route back to her employer’s home.
She also shared that Loreta had plans to return to the Philippines to celebrate her 50th birthday in November last year and to retire from working abroad.
