February Reaction Paper

OWWA vows livelihood aid
by Lee Ann P. Ducusin
Monday, 28 February 2011 19:19
THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will provide stress debriefing and livelihood assistance for Filipinos who fled Libya.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said OFWs who want to start their own business need only to inform the Department of Labor and Employment the kind of business they want to put up.

“Tutulungan natin kung maliit na halaga ang micro-entrepreneurship, we can give them financial grant. Kung malaki we have loan assistance for them. Bibigyan sila ng stress debriefing sa gusto sumailalim sa stress debriefing,” she said.

However, Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte explained that the livelihood assistance will apply only to Filipinos who were not given job commitments by their Libyan employers.

She said many of the repatriated Filipinos, especially those working in multinational companies, had been assured of alternate jobs.



REACTION:

The whole world is in distress for what is happening in the Middle East. People in different raises working on that affected areas with chaos are moving back on their respective countries. Many OFWs are rescued and sent back here in the Philippines. Yes they are already saved and pulled away from the battle but the question is, ‘how can they start a new life when nothing’s left from them?’, ‘how can they sustain the needs of their family when their jobs are all gone now?’.
The proposed plan of the OWWA to give livelihood assistance for the rescued OFWs who are not given job commitments by their employers is definitely a right solution for this concern. I am happy to here that the Philippine government is planning to help and aid the sorrow of our poor OFWs. This can at least be a way for them to move on with their lives, start a new chapter and forget their traumatic experiences in the center of the war.
I am hoping that this plan will be put into action and will not remain as a promise!
May the government take every steps to help not only the OFW but each Filipinos who are in need.