14 distressed OFWs who sought SP help finally home
Villar cites DFA, OWWA

Senate President Manny Villar cited the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for bringing home distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), a number of whom asked Villar's help.

"It gives us relief to see our kababayans emancipated from a hostile working environment and reunited with their families in the country," Villar said. "We laud and acknowledge the hard work put in by the DFA and OWWA in their repatriation," he stressed.

"Likewise, we look forward to the timely arrival of more of our distressed Filipinos abroad who also long to come home," said Villar.

Despite heavy rains, Villar was not deterred from personally welcoming severely distressed OFWs who arrived yesterday. Doctors brought by the Senate President checked on the wokers' health conditions.

A total of 14 OFWs whose families have asked the assistance of Villar through his OFW helpline arrived yesterday.

The first batch who arrived were Rowena Marticio Ulay from Bulacan, Dullina Aradais Malali from Basilan, and Joan Faith Banglot from Kalinga. The second batch of 11 OFWs were: Mariza Bantao, Geralyn Tambalo, Jocelyn Brasuela, Tayan Kasim, Cydan Furiscal, Erlinda Yara, Noria Balaud, Marilou Caslib, Annalita Samson, Rachelle Parong, and Dinah Rosales.

The Nacionalista Party president has been regularly giving assistance to OFWs in distress using his own personal funds by sponsoring their transportation fares to Manila and back to their provinces. A number also received livelihood assistance from Villar to help them recover from misfortune suffered abroad.

Villar has been pushing for the setting up of a P1-billion fund for the repatriation of and assistance to Filipino migrant workers in distress.