The Duterte administration, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, remained true to its promise to provide assistance to the repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFW) from Saudi Arabia.

The DSWD Field Office III is currently providing financial assistance to hundreds of displaced OFWs in Central Luzon. The government program called ‘Humanitarian Mission Repatriates of DSWD Field Office III,’ aims to assist the OFWs who were affected by the mass lay off in Saudi Arabia.

According to the DSWD Field Office III Regional Director Gemma Gabuya, “Itong programang ito ay base rin sa consultation agreement ng mga ahensya sa Region 3 na naglalayong tulungan ang mga kababayan nating repatriated OFWs.”

One of the repatriated OFWs who was able to avail financial support from the Department was Glen Lapid, a resident of Guagua, Pampanga. He has rendered 25 years of service in Saudi Arabia before he was laid off. According to him, he learned about the financial assistance through social media.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa DSWD dahil kahit saan lupalop ka pumunta hindi ka makakakuha ng ganyang pera, at least malaking tulong po ng gobyerno, salamat po,” he added.

The Department acknowledged that the little amount provided by the government is not enough for the OFWs to start anew. This is why the Department calls for coordination with other government agencies to help our distressed fellow Filipinos.

As part of the efforts to help the displaced OFWs, the DSWD previously sent a humanitarian team to bring home the stranded Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. #### (Ma. Dennielle M. Lomboy)