Two OFWs in DavOr receive financial assistance from Owwa

TWO former OFWs from Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental received financial assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) last December 19, 2017 at the Municipal Session Hall after the conduct of orientation on the various programs and services of Owwa.

The assistance is in pursuant to Owwa Board Resolution No. 7, series of 2017, establishing a welfare assistance fund on the grant of financial assistance to OFWs affected by the occurrence of natural or man-made disasters/calamities, untimely/tragic death of the OFWs and other analogous causes.

One of the grantees is Mekein T. Babasol, 41 years old from Purok Mabuhay, Poblacion, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental. He worked as a construction worker in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for nine (9) years. He was diagnosed with diabetes which caused him to be repatriated on July 2017. Upon evaluation of his medical records, OFW Babasol qualified for the financial assistance worth Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) under the Welfare Assistance Program of Owwa.

Ana Marie L. Vidal, a former accounting clerk in a company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, likewise received the same financial assistance after complying all the needed requirements. She worked with the company from March 2005 to April 2009. However, due to numerous tasks assigned to her by her employer, she lost focus and experienced anxiety. She was hospitalized and was diagnosed to have a bipolar disorder. She was advised to rest and decided to go home in the Philippines on April 2009.

On behalf of Owwa 11 Regional Director Eduardo E. Bellido, Mr. Carmelo T. Elaya, Programs and Services Division Chief, awarded the check together with Governor Generoso Mayor Katrina Joy H. Orencia.

Meanwhile, in her message, Mayor Orencia expressed her sincere gratitude to Owwa for the usual assistance and support extended to her OFW constituents.

The financial assistance granted to the two OFWs greatly helped in their continuous medication. OFW Babasol said that, some of the amount he received will be used for his maintenance medicine while the remaining amount will be utilized for additional capital of his sarisari store. OFW Vidal, on the other hand, was very grateful to avail of the assistance because it lessens the burden of buying costly medicines.

To date, the region has a total of sixty three (63) OFWs who already availed of the financial assistance. Of this number, six (6) grantees were from Davao Oriental. Maricel T. Sarabillo/Owwa 11