• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Authorities are awaiting the resumption of flights in Bahrain to repatriate a cancer-stricken Bacolodnon Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), through the coordinated efforts of the City Help Desk and the Department of Migrant Workers.
Following a personal appeal from the worker’s family, Mayor Greg Gasataya moved to place the patient on the priority list for a safe return.
The OFW’s situation gained attention following a social media post highlighting the double burden of battling a terminal illness while navigating the escalating regional conflict in the Middle East.
Gasataya added that as of March 10, the dedicated OFW helpdesk and hotline has accommodated over 100 Bacolodnons with families stationed in the Middle East.
According to Gasataya, the city’s priority is assisting those who remain here in the city, as the most significant challenge lies in the fact that many of these OFWs are the families’ primary breadwinners.
He noted that both the city and the national government are collaborating to determine the specific measures that can be implemented to support them.
The mayor noted that some OFWs have opted to remain abroad to continue supporting their families financially.
The help desk, managed by the Public Employment Service Office, remains fully operational and exempt from the city’s newly implemented four-day workweek.*
