• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is on alert to help Negrense overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the Israel-Iran conflict.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday (June 17) the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), through its Migrant Resource Center and OFW Desk, will always entertain Negrenses who have relatives in Israel or Iran.
“It’s always open. They can always come to the Capitol building,” he said.
PESO manager Karen Dinsay said the OFW Help Desk is open and ready to provide assistance to OFWs in Israel, Iran, and the neighboring Jordan, who are affected by the conflict in those countries.
Dinsay said the provincial government is extending P5,000 financial assistance for repatriated distressed and displaced OFWs.
However, there is no advice yet from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) if there are Negrense OFWs included in the voluntary repatriation list.
Dinsay said the provincial government will also give immediate assistance of rice and canned goods to repatriated Negrense OFWs while the financial assistance is on process.
Families of Negrense OFWs in Iran, Israel and Jordan may contact the Capitol hotlines (034) 4767230 or (0998)9569037, if they need help.
While no mandatory evacuation has been implemented yet, DMW said it will try to repatriate Filipinos, who wanted to go home.
Six Filipinos were reported to have been injured in Iran’s ongoing missile strike in several areas of Israel. | GB
