The DMW and DSWD have signed an agreement to provide humanitarian aid to approximately 10,000 Filipino workers who Saudi construction companies have owed money since 2015. The aid will be distributed in the next few weeks, with each agency contributing around PHP50 million to the fund.
In addition to financial aid, the DSWD and DMW will explore ways to assist the children of overseas Filipino workers who are under the guardianship of next of kin or household members. This follows the tragic incident of Virginia Peña, a Saudi worker whose partner took the lives of her four children before taking his own in their home in Cavite.
Php 10K Cash Aid to be Provided to Unpaid Saudi Workers Soon – DMW, DSWD
DMW Secretary Susan Ople has emphasized the agency’s commitment to preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has also commended the DMW’s programs and noted that the agency provides financial assistance to the families of overseas Filipino workers, the Philippine News Agency reported.
Under the agreement, the DSWD will provide technical assistance to the OWWA to facilitate the implementation of the financial aid program. The agency will also help create a digital portal to assist the families of workers. The signing of the memorandum of agreement was attended by officials from both agencies, including Arnel Ignacio, the OWWA Administrator, and DSWD Under Secretary Francis Javier. They expressed gratitude for the assistance and pledged to monitor the program’s implementation.
The DSWD and DMW partnership aims to provide urgent aid to the thousands of Filipino workers who are experiencing financial difficulties due to the failure of Saudi construction companies to pay them.
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The signing of the memorandum of agreement between the DMW and the DSWD to provide PHP10,000 in humanitarian assistance to about 10,000 unpaid Saudi workers is expected to have a positive impact on the affected workers and their families. This financial aid can help alleviate their financial difficulties and provide them with some relief.
Additionally, the agreement’s provision to assist the children of overseas Filipino workers left under the guardianship of next of kin or household members is a crucial step towards protecting their welfare and ensuring their well-being. The partnership between the DMW and DSWD also demonstrates the government’s commitment to supporting its overseas Filipino workers and their families.
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