Press Release
August 18, 2015

Repatriated OFWs receive livelihood assistance from Villar

Six overseas Filipino workers who returned home after suffering maltreatment abroad were the latest beneficiaries of livelihood assistance from Sen. Cynthia Villar and the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance).

The OFWs visited Villar at the Senate and received groceries and financial assistance as start up items for a sari-sari store.

"We continue to assist our returning OFWs as they start anew in our home country. We want our kababayan, who experienced misfortune abroad, to know that they can start over and there are people and institutions willing to help them," Villar said.

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.

Among the recipients of the livelihood assistance were:

  • � Elena Culi, 45 years old from Marikina City: She worked in Lebanon and Jeddah and was a victim of maltreatment having denied food and no salary for eight months;

  • � Mylene Perez, 40 years old, from Laguna: She was deployed supposedly to work as a beautician but ended up as a household service worker in Saudi. She was a victim of maltreatment as her employers regularly hurt her, denied her food and water, locked her up in their quarters without electricity, received constant death threats and no salaries.

  • Helen Ticzon, 43 years old, from Binondo, Manila: She was supposed to work as a beautician but ended up as a household service worker in Saudi. Her employer also hurt her, denied her food and water, and locked her up in their quarters.

  • Ginalyn Sanico, 33 years old, from Trece Martirez, Cavite: She was serving three households in Singapore which was not stated in the employment contract. She was a victim of physical and verbal abuse, denied food and water, not allowed to sleep and rest and received constant death threats from employer.

  • Luisa Hazel Caspe, 29 years old, from Bacoor, Cavite: She was a victim of physical abuse in Kuwait. She acquired trauma which resulted in mental disorientation.

  • Gemma Gomez, 49 years old, from Valenzuela City: She worked as a household service worker in Riyadh. She was passed on to different employers and was forced to take various medicines like sleeping pills. She woke up one time inside a mental hospital naked and handcuffed.

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