OFW saved from UAE death row gets livelihood aid

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Jennifer Dalquez, the former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from this city who was earlier saved from the death row in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has received a livelihood package from the government to start her life anew.

Sisinio Cano, Department of Labor and Employment-Region 12 (DOLE-12) director, said Friday that they provided Dalquez with livelihood starter kits through the agency's flagship Integrated Livelihood Program.

Cano said Dalquez received on Thursday the livelihood starter kits worth P29,205, comprising of packages for “sari-sari” store enhancement and a carinderia or eatery project.

The assistance included assorted grocery items, four sacks of premium rice, kitchen wares, complete set of burner with Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG tank, and other cooking implements, he said.

Cano said they came up with the assistance package based on the results of their coordination and evaluation on the needs of Dalquez, who is a resident of Barangay Labangal here.

The agency had earlier offered employment opportunities to the former OFW, but the latter instead chose the “self-employment option,” he said.

“The family already has an existing sari-sari store and she wanted to expand it. Her mother also has cooking skills so we provided them with a starter kit for a carinderia (eatery) business,” Cano said.

Aside from these, he said they will provide additional assistance to Dalquez in the form of skills training.

Dalquez, 31, returned home last Nov. 9 and reunited with her family after more than seven years abroad.

She was sent to the death row in UAE in 2015 for stabbing to death her male employer, who assaulted and tried to rape her. She was acquitted and eventually freed last Oct. 25 through the interventions of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and DOLE. (PNA)