Officials and personnel of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) interacted with overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Doha as the DSWD joins 11 other government agencies in providing services to OFWs during the Qatar leg of the ‘Bagong Bayani Serbisyo Caravan.’
“Sa utos po ng ating Pangulo, kami po ay nandito ngayon upang mamahagi ng impormasyon para sa mga bagong bayani ukol sa programa ng DSWD na maaaring ma-access ninyo at ng inyong pamilya na nasa Pilipinas, dahil alam po namin ang inyong mga sakripisyo dito sa Qatar,” Asst. Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs said in her message Friday (July 25) to the modern-day Filipino heroes gathered at the Philippine School of Doha.
The DSWD provided psycho-social services to the OFWs, and responded to concerns about availing the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), application for solo parent ID, Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA), and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
Although most of the services of the Department are provided in the Philippines, Asst. Secretary Colico explained that these can be availed by the OFWs’ dependents back home.
“Malayo po kayo sa ating bansa at sa inyong pamilya, kaya nandito kami upang ilapit ang serbisyo namin sa inyo,” Asst. Secretary Colico said on behalf of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
The DSWD team was composed of social workers and other frontline workers who worked together to cater to the needs of 75 OFWs, addressing a total of 179 concerns, which were mostly about how to apply for a solo parent’s ID, AICS for their families, and travel permits for their children.
Many OFWs also expressed their request for possible livelihood assistance from DSWD for members of their families in the Philippines.
Perla Escubido, 47, a domestic worker, who sought assistance in availing a solo parent ID, expressed her gratitude to the DSWD as she was given clarification on how to avail the service she needs.
“Isang malaking tulong din na nagkaroon ng ganitong caravan lalo na sa mga OFW na katulad namin na makahingi man ng advice, ng lahat ng tulong sa problema namin. Kahit sa advice lang, malaking tulong,” Perla said.
Mary Jane Aguilar Pacheco, 53, expressed her worry about her family in the Philippines who had been affected by the recent typhoons.
“Gusto ko lang malaman kung ano po yung mga benefits na pwedeng makuha ng OFW if ang pamilya namin ay nasalanta ng kalamidad. Kasi kadalasan sinasabi nila kapag OFW, ini-ignore, hindi binibigyan kasi OFW kami. Kanina may nakausap po ako (DSWD social worker), binigyan niya ng linaw, na even if you are an OFW, walang mahirap, walang mayaman, dapat pantay-pantay sa serbisyo ng DSWD,” Mary Jane pointed out.
Living and working as a domestic worker for eight years now, Mary Jane sees the caravan as a timely and much-appreciated initiative of the Philippine government.
“Masyado pong malaking tulong ito sa lahat po ng OFW, lalong lalo na po sa mga tulad naming nagtatrabaho sa loob ng bahay. Hindi na po namin kailangan pang pumila pila. Kumbaga, ginawa po ni Presidente Marcos na maging easy para sa lahat at thank you para po sa pagdadala (ng gobyerno) dito sa Qatar,” Mary Jane said.
Belinda Abu Khazna, known as teacher Dang at the Philippine School of Doha, had been residing in Qatar for 20 years. Teacher Dang had no specific concerns in mind but wanted to know the different programs and services of the DSWD.
“Yung maka-avail ng lahat ng serbisyo ng government ay napakalaking tulong para sa mga OFWs ng Doha,” Teacher Dang said as she expressed approval for the first ever serbisyo caravan in Doha.
Organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the ‘Bagong Bayani Serbisyo Caravan’ in Doha is part of a series of caravans which was launched in Hongkong last June. The caravan was also brought to the OFWs in Riyadh and Japan this July.
Spearheading the whole-of-government caravan were Philippine Ambassador to the State of Qatar Mardomel Celo Melicor, DMW Undersecretary Atty. Jainal Rasul Jr, Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Atty. Patricia Yvonne Caunan; DMW Asst. Secretary Venecio Legaspi, DMW Labor Attache Atty. Eduard Ferrer, Philippine Embassy in Qatar Consul General Cassandra Sawadjaan, and Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta. (GDVF)