DSWD to keep assisting repatriated Filipinos

Noraisa, 30, who was fired as a housekeeper in Saudi Arabia for having a child, thanked the Duterte administration now that she is back home with her eight-month-old baby.

Noraisa is one of many repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents who were assisted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Akala namin wala na pong pag-asa para makaalis at makakuha ng libreng ticket. Nagpapasalamat po kami sa tulong ng gobyerno (We thought there was no hope for us to go back home and get a free ticket. We thank the government for helping us),” Noraisa said.

Another OFW is Almira, 27, who is also thankful to the government for assisting her and her husband in their return to the Philippines with their child.

She said that they are also grateful to the DSWD for the cash assistance provided to them.

“Mahirap po ang pinagdaanan ko doon sa Saudi. Nagtrabaho ako ng maayos bilang domestic helper pero hindi binibigay ang sahod ko ng tama at nasa oras. Minsan, delayed ng five months. Nakatikim din ako ng pangaabuso sa amo ko noong tinapunan niya ako ng mainit na kape sa braso. Salamat talaga sa tulong para makauwi kami (What I have gone through in Saudi was really hard. I worked hard as a domestic helper, but my employer did not give my salary on time. Sometimes, it is delayed for five months. I also experienced abuse when my employer poured a hot cup of coffee on my arm. I am really thankful now that we are home),” Almira said.

“The DSWD will continue to assist OFWs and their dependents who will avail of the 90-day amnesty program of Saudi Arabia. We are constantly coordinating with our Social Service Attaché in Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and in Kuwait for the names of mothers and their children who will be flying back home in the next couple of weeks for the provision of appropriate assistance,” said Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo.

The 90-day amnesty period offered by Saudi Arabia allows foreign nationals, including Filipino workers, who are illegally staying in the country to return to their countries of origin without paying fines or facing legal measures.

Last May 11, the DSWD assisted 13 Filipinos, composed of five mothers, one father and seven children.

On May 13, the department provided assistance to another 13 Filipinos -- four mothers, one father and eight children.

The DSWD also extended aid to another batch of Filipinos who arrived on Sunday, May 14, composed of five mothers, five children, and one pregnant woman.

To date, the DSWD has assisted 102 Filipinos, including those who arrived on April 17 together with President Duterte and those who returned to the country on May 4.