More OFWs receive livelihood assistance from Villar SIPAG

Four overseas Filipino workers who returned home after suffering unfortunate experience while working abroad are the latest beneficiaries of livelihood assistance from Sen. Cynthia Villar and the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG).

The OFWs visited Villar at her Senate office yesterday and received groceries and financial assistance to start a sari-sari store.

"We continue our work in extending help to troubled OFWs and their families. We realize that our government cannot do it all alone and this is our way of contributing to the gargantuan task of easing our OFWs' suffering," Villar said.

Among the recipients of the assistance was Grace Victoria Sales, 28, who was deployed as a domestic worker in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

She experienced maltreatment and sexual harassment from her employer that led her to run away and seek the assistance of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Al- Khobar. She went to the POLO's Bahay Kalinga, a center for distressed overseas Filipino workers where she was offered to work as janitress.

While she was at the center, Jose Casicas, the Labor Attache's driver, allegedly attempted to rape her. After the incident, she escaped from the Bahay Kalinga. She allegedly received a call from an employee of Labor Attache Musa who conveyed that the driver will be given a disciplinary action. She was offered 10, 000 SR or equivalent to P 100,000.00 in exchange for her silence.

The family of deceased OFW Josephine Tan received the assistance on her behalf. Tan started working in Dubai last June 2013 as an "all-around" worker in a chocolate factory and store.

On February 24, 2014, Tan was found dead in her room. She died due to cardio-pulmonary arrest. Upon investigation, no foul play was reported by the Dubai police.

Another beneficiary was Dondon Lanuza, 39, who worked as an architectural draftsman in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. He was convicted and sentenced to death after stabbing an Arab national, Mohamad Al-Qahtani. However, Lanuza maintained that the Arab national attempted to rape him, which was why he fought for his life.

After 13 years of campaigning for his plight, Lanuza was able to raise the P35 million blood money. On September 19, 2013, he came back to the Philippines and was reunited with his family.

Also a recipient of the assistance was Marie Paz, 30, who worked as a domestic helper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During her first three months of employment, the spouse of her employer treated her well. But after her employer gave birth, she was made to work for long hours with inadequate food, sleep and rest. She also complained of physical and emotional abuse.

Aside from repatriation of distressed OFWs, Villar SIPAG is also in the forefront of providing livelihood opportunities to returning OFWs. It also partnered with various organizations, including the Ople Center, to help OFWs acquire new skills through training and skills upgrading.