Unpaid salaries, benefits and need for other employment assistance are among the concerns of the repatriated Overseas Filipino workers as raised during the conduct of assembly cum consultation dialogue with overseas Filipinos in distress led by DSWD-NCR on January 10, 2017.

DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson in his welcome remarks encourages the 82 OFWs who participated in the activity to maximize the consultation in raising their concerns as it will help in evaluating the programs and services of the government in addressing the issues confronting them, the so called “new hero” of the country.

“We have in here the representatives from our Social Welfare Attache Office (SWATO), TESDA, DFA, Migrante International, National Reintegration Center of OFWs and OWWA who will later give you salient information about the programs and services we could offer for all of you, thus, take this opportunity also to personally raise to us your concerns,” Director Leyson emphasized.

Meanwhile, in her discussion about the services being offered by Migrante International, Ms. Pamela Pangilinan, representative of said organization commends the conduct of the activity as it serves as an effort of the government to reach-out and consult the repatriated OFWs.

Ms. Pangilinan said “lubos ang aming pasasalamat dahil sa pagkakataong ito, hindi ang OFW ang nangangalampag sa gobyerno, kundi DSWD ang kumakatok sa OFWs upang malaman ang mga suliranin nila sa labas ng bansa.”

Likewise, Atty. Raul Dado, Executive Director of the Office of the Migrant Workers’ Affairs of DFA invited the attendees to personally file their concerns in his office in order to address their dilemmas based on their respective circumstances.

In 2016, DSWD-NCR has served a total of 389 OFWs through the provision of transportation and financial assistance and temporary shelter to them based on their immediate need as assessed by the social worker. ###