BUTUAN CITY – At least 223 families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Surigao del Norte’s Siargao Island affected by Typhoon Odette in December last year have benefited from a PHP669,000 financial aid, an official said Friday.
“The assistance was released through the Welfare Assistance Program of OWWA,” Michaela Manaig, information chief of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Caraga Region (OWWA-13), said in a statement.
Manaig said the cash assistance was released through a series of distribution activities conducted last month in eight municipalities of the island.
Among the OFWs who received the assistance was Egelyn Menil, a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia, whose family was devastated by Typhoon Odette.
“I am thankful to the government, especially to OWWA for the financial support. This will help my children as I prepare to go back abroad to work,” Menil was quoted as saying.
Rowen Salamigan, an OFW seafarer, was also grateful for the assistance his family received, saying the money will support the needs of his family as they recover from the damage caused by the typhoon.
The agency said the Welfare Assistance Program is a special package intended for OFWs with active OWWA memberships affected by any natural disastrous calamities. Each beneficiary is entitled to receive PHP3,000.
OWWA-13 said it is also continuously releasing WAP calamity assistance to the typhoon-affected OFWs in mainland Surigao del Norte. (PNA)
