ILOILO – The provincial government will extend assistance to the family of Ilongga overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Grace Prodigo-Cabrera, the fourth Filipino killed amid the Israel and Hamas war.
The 45-year-old Grace, married, from Barangay Burak, Maasin town, died after she was abducted by terrorists group Hamas in Kibbutz Be’eri, Israel.
She has been working as a caregiver in Kibbutz Be’eri for more than five years.
“We will prepare to assist kon ano ang mabulig naton,” Defensor said during a press conference on Friday morning, Oct. 20, adding that in such case, a bigger amount is given to the bereaved family.
The governor is presently coordinating with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for the provincial government to also prepare in case Grace’s remains will be repatriated.
He said the assistance the provincial government or government agencies could give depends on the need of Prodigo family.
Defensor hopes there would be no more fatality from the province.
“We have one casualty and tani wala na,” the governor said, adding he would visit the Prodigo family once Grace’s remains will be brought home.
Meanwhile, the provincial government is also ready to extend assistance to any Ilonggo OFW in Israel who wants to be repatriated.
There are currently 207 Ilonggo OFWs in Israel, based on the monitoring and reporting of the 42 towns and one component city of Passi as confirmed by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO)-Iloilo headed by Francisco Heler Jr.
Defensor had earlier reactivated the 24/7 Operation Assistance Ilonggo Migrants Desk. It is being managed by PESO-Iloilo and Provincial Civil Defense Office.
Anyone with information about any Ilonggo who may be affected by the conflict in Israel may call the following hotlines:
* 0998-968-6800
* 0998-968-6801
* 0961-680-4428
* 0977-451-7156
* 0998-357-5791
* 0921-952-8750
* 0916-758-3156, and
* 0917-754-3833.
Earlier this week, Cynthia Parcon-Dario, Supervising Labor and Employment Officer of PESO-Iloilo, said repatriated OFWs from Israel with an active or incomplete contract are eligible to avail themselves of the P10,000 financial assistance.
Stipulated in Provincial Ordinance 2020-245, the P10,000 financial assistance targets repatriated Ilonggo OFWs who’ve faced job loss due to factors in the host nation like political disturbances, civil discord, natural disasters, mistreatment from foreign employers, or health-related issues.
For the actualization of this ordinance, Defensor has earmarked a P21-million fund. Tracing back, 387 OFWs tapped into this provision in 2021, succeeded by 92 more in 2022, and as of October 16 this year, 127 OFWs have been beneficiaries.
Aside from the P10,000 financial assistance, repatriated OFWs can avail themselves of PRIME counseling from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and Expanded Micro Business Recovery Assistance During Crisis and Emergency (EMBRACE) Program from Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions (LEDIP), among others.
OWWA Region 6 data showed there are 395 OFWs in Israel from the province of Iloilo./PN
