As the world is severely hit by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many Filipinos abroad, and their families in the Philippines are also suffering from the adverse socio-economic impact brought by the coronavirus disease.
According to ACTS-OFW Partylist Chairman John Bertiz, the government should reconsider the inclusion of families of OFWs in its list of beneficiaries qualified to avail of the cash subsidy program, especially now that the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon has been extended to April 30.
“We urge the government agencies to extend immediate assistance and support to the families of OFWs who were affected.”
“I am appealing to the government to also give equal attention to the plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families during this time of global public health emergency. Like the rest of our people, our OFWs and their families are also scared, hungry and insecure of their own survival, including a possible loss of jobs and livelihood,” Bertiz said.
Bertiz said OFWs are mostly working in high risk workplaces like hospitals, health care facilities or are essential services providers that are more exposed to virus infection but only few of them have ready access to adequate medical protection and treatment.
The highest death rate of Filipinos abroad has been recorded in America at 35% with 27 deaths out of 77 positive cases; a number quite alarming considering that there are more than 3.8 million recorded Filipinos in the area, said Bertiz.
“Ensure that their lives and their families are being valued in the time of global health and economic crisis.”
Bertiz also called on concerned government agencies as well as licensed recruitment agencies and their foreign counterparts to check on the condition of their deployed workers and find ways to assist their families here in the Philippines.
“We urge the government agencies to extend immediate assistance and support to the families of OFWs who were affected and died abroad due to the virus. It is our responsibility to the victims’ families, to, at least, give them the farewell that they deserve after being away from home to make a living,” Bertiz added.
As of April 7, there are 133 recovered and discharged OFWs. ACTS-OFW is optimistic that with the government’s attention and assistance, recovery of the infected OFWs will continue to soar.
“It’s time to pay our modern-day heroes back with their hard-earned sacrifices. We must double our efforts to ensure that their lives and their families are being valued in the time of global health and economic crisis,” Bertiz concluded.