Marcos Prods DFA, OWWA to Ensure Help for Families of OFWs killed in Saudi
By: Ernie Reyes, InterAksyon.com
November 18, 2015 11:24 PM
MANILA – Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday prodded the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to ensure swift assistance to the families of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were reportedly killed in an accident in Saudi Arabia.
Initial reports said at least 14 Filipino workers were killed in Al-Asha, a province in Eastern Saudi Arabia, when a delivery truck rammed the coaster they were riding in on the way to their barracks.
“The DFA should immediately accomplish all the requirements so the remains of those who were killed can be repatriated as soon as possible. Likewise, the OWWA should ensure the speedy release of all assistance for the families of the deceased OFWs and for those who were injured,” Marcos said.
“It is in this time of distress that the families of the killed OFWs need most to feel that the government really cares for them,” according to Marcos.
“It grieves us that they met this tragic fate while striving for a better future for their families back home. The last thing we want to hear now are complaints that the government is not doing enough to help them,” said Marcos.
Marcos cited, “The family of a deceased OWWA member is entitled to receive P220,000 in total financial assistance if an accident is the cause of death. Also per OWWA, survivors of a deceased OFW are also entitled to educational assistance amounting to P5,000 for elementary; P 8,000 for high school and P10,000 for college per school year, while livelihood assistance amounting to P15,000 is also given to the surviving spouse.”
Marcos said the government should adopt an aggressive job generation program so Filipinos will no longer have to leave the country just to find a job to support the needs of their families.
The senator earlier said that if he wins as Vice President in the 2016 elections and be asked for a portfolio, he would choose the Department of Labor and Employment because he has concrete plans to improve job generation while initiating better protection for the country’s laborers.