The Villar Foundation led by its Managing Director, former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar, has been repatriating distressed OFWs and helping them and their relatives as part of its key advocacies.
“We are happy that we are in a position where we can help our countrymen, especially our OFWs who unfortunately encounter different types of problems abroad. We cannot rescue them all, so it is good that both the private sector and the government are extending similar help to OFWs,” said Villar.
The Villar Foundation has repatriated thousands of OFWs. This, in coordination with the Office of Senator Manny Villar as well as related government offices such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) as well as the Blas Ople Center and Migrante.
According to Villar, “Besides repatriation, we also extend other forms of help to OFWs and their relatives. We help them get reintegrated into the society through livelihood trainings and assistance; medical assistance; and we even organized an OFW summit with Go Negosyo for them to encourage them to become entrepreneurs.”
Arriving back in the country from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) aboard flight GF154 via Gulf Airlines, the OFWs are a picture of relief and happiness to be back home safely to be with their families and loved ones.
Their stories, no different from most OFWs, are stories of hope and ambition that turned into desperation. But now back home, thanks to the Villar Foundation, they can start anew.
Bukidnon native, 31-year-old Romelyn Daguplo, worked as a domestic helper in Dubai, UAE. Undetected by authorities, she left the country in March last year, already pregnant. Since pushisments for pregnant unmarried women are harsh in an Arab country, she got scared and ran away from her employer. This prompted her mother, who works as a housemaid here, to seek the help of Sagip-OFW.
Joanalin Pascua suffered in the hands of her employer in Dubai. She was underpaid, overworked and worst, sexually harassed. She sought refuge at Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO-OWWA) in Dubai, until her repatriation.
Jacquelyln Costuna, a 24-ear-old resident of Manila, left the country for Dubai in October last year only. She ran away from her employer because she suffered from maltreatment and verbal abuse. She also stayed with POLO-OWWA Dubai until her repatriation on Monday.
For more details about OFW-related activities and other programs of the Villar Foundation, please visit its website: www.villarfoundation.org
