Villar's Sagip OFW repatriates 21 distressed OFWs

Twenty-one distressed overseas Filipino workers and five children came home today after years of struggle in Malaysia. The undocumented OFWs were either illegally recruited or entered the country as tourists and overstayed while engaging in various jobs there.

Flown by Cebu Pacific Flight No. 5J 502, the group was welcomed by Sagip OFW staff at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. They later had breakfast with Sen. Manny Villar and relatives in a restaurant on Macapagal Boulevard.

"Gaya po ng sinabi natin dati, hindi man tayo palarin na pamunuan ang bansa hindi po tayo hihinto sa pagtulong sa mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan ng tulong sa ibang bansa. Patuloy po ang Sagip OFW sa pagtanggap ng tawag at pag-aalay ng serbisyo kasama ang ibang ahensya ng ating pamahalaan para mapabilis ang pag-uwi ng mga OFW na matagal nang naghihintay," Villar said.

Villar added he knows the magnitude of the problem of OFWs and his program is his own little way of helping the government in their repatriation effort and to provide assistance to OFWs in distress.

Sagip OFW is Villar's program advancing the welfare of OFWs. To date, it has repatriated hundreds and helped provide assistance to thousands of OFWs.

Recently, Villar and the Blas F. Ople Policy Center partnered to initiate Skills-Up, a vocational skills scholarship program for victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in cooperation with the Asian School of Hospitality Arts. For the initial phase, the chosen scholars will undergo a three-month course on hotel housekeeping and barista. The OFWs who arrived today are:

Johnny Sinaban, 22 (Quirino, Isabela); Romy Daligdig, 29 (Tanza, Cavite); Dennis Peralta, 29 (Quirino, Ilocos Sur); Ronaldo Closa, 34 (Saguday, Quirino); Jores Palma, 24 (San Jacinto, Pangasinan); Miriam Estenor, 38 (Talisay, Cebu); Melanie Fabrigas, 26 (Rosales, Pangasinan); Rolando Fernandez, 38 (Leloy, Zamboanga del Norte); Estella Joseco, 39 (Caloocan City); Ernesto Linocon, 45 (San Isidro, Davao Oriental); Manuel Natividad, 41(Tagum, Davao del Norte); Artemio Valuz, 52 (Binangonan, Rizal); Irene Valuz, 24 (Binangonan, Rizal); Emma Aronce (Binondo, Manila), 45; Jessette Bacani, 28 (Quezon City); Juvy Quinlat, 44 (Dingle, Iloilo); Ma. Arlene Santillan, 34; Mokrim Marwan, 28 (Sumisip, Basilan); Gemma Tegerro, 41 (Dasmarinas, Cavite); Mimi Marie Lozada, 35 (Ballesteros, Cagayan Valley); and Ramon Sto. Domingo, 47 (Cardona, Rizal).