BORACAY – The 41-year-old Rudy of Bukidnon is an employee of a wine distribution company in this island resort.
But due to the island’s six-month closure beginning last week, the company was forced to temporarily suspend its operations, leaving Rudy and other migrant workers with no jobs.
Rudy was among those who received help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’ (DSWD).
Island workers lined up to DSWD’s operation center at the Boracay Tropics Resort on Friday to get their transportation allowance.
“Nagtrabaho ako sa Boracay dahil sa kababata ko sa Aklan. Ang naipon ko dito pinadala ko rin sa pamilya sa Bukidnon,” Rudy told this reporter. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa DSWD sa travel allowance. Baka doon na ako hahanap ng trabaho sa Bukidnon para makasama ang pamilya.”
As of April 27, the DSWD operation center has released P4.7 million to 2,047 displaced workers in Boracay.
In a public advisory, DSWD regional director Rebecca Geamela said they temporarily stopped the release of the transportation allowance.
Geamela added that they were still conducting assessment and validation of affected workers.
“Huwag po kayong mabahala. Mayroon tayong sapat na pondo. Subalit hindi namin inaasahan na doble ang bugso ng mga displaced workers na nag-avail,” she stressed.
Geamala assured that they will release the funds to affected workers as soon as May 1.
“Ang DSWD ay kasama ninyo sa pagharap sa krisis ng pagsasara ng Boracay. Handa kaming makinig at bukas kami lagi para sa inyo palagi,”Geamala added. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
