DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur — The Digos City Government has announced that it will provide financial assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from the city who wish to return home due to the ongoing tensions in parts of the Middle East.
Under the program, each returning OFW who is a resident of Digos City will receive ₱20,000 in cash assistance. The initiative also includes reintegration support aimed at helping returning workers rebuild their livelihoods and find employment opportunities within the city.
According to the city government, the assistance is intended to help OFWs transition back to their communities and recover from the challenges brought about by the crisis abroad.
Requirements for Assistance
OFWs who plan to avail themselves of the assistance must submit the following documents to the Digos City Public Employment Services Office (PESO):
-
Copy of passport
-
Copy of work contract
-
Referral letter from the Philippine Embassy
-
Certificate of indigency from the barangay where the OFW resides
Returning OFWs may also send inquiries through the official PESO Facebook page of the city.
Support for Families
Meanwhile, Joseph Fortich Cagas, mayor of Digos City, has instructed the City Information and Communications Technology Office (CICTO) to make its facilities available to families who need help contacting relatives currently working in the affected areas of the Middle East.
Families experiencing difficulty communicating with their loved ones can visit the CICTO office located on the ground floor of the old City Hall building, where fast and reliable internet access is available.
National Government Assistance
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has also expressed readiness to assist repatriated OFWs. According to DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, the agency provides financial assistance to OFWs who temporarily stay in Manila before returning to their home provinces.
DSWD field offices are also coordinating with local government units to ensure that returning OFWs receive support, including employment opportunities and livelihood programs, particularly for those who no longer wish to work abroad after experiencing the crisis.
Local authorities hope the combined assistance from the city government and national agencies will help returning OFWs safely reintegrate into their communities and rebuild their lives after working overseas.
Source PIA
