• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The family of Loreta Villarin Alacre, a Negrense caregiver killed in the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas fighters, received assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office in Western Visayas.
DSWD assistant regional director for Western Visayas Arwin Razo, disclosed that P40,000 in cash and food assistance was given for the nephews of Alacre, whose education she financed, and her sibling, who is a solo parent.
DSWD also plans to extend livelihood assistance to the immediate family.
Alacre, 49, who worked in Israel for around 15 years, was attending the Supernova Music Festival outside the Re’im Kibbutz near the Gaza Strip that was attacked by Hamas fighters.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante have assured help for the family of Alacre and families of Negrense OFWs needing assistance in the war-torn Israel.
Records of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Western Visayas showed that there are 231 OFWs in Negros Occidental working in Israel. It was not yet determined how many are living in Gaza.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has ordered the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Gaza, after raising the alert level to 4.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the public that due to the current situation in Gaza, we have placed Gaza under Alert Level 4 (Mandatory Repatriation),” the DFA said in a statement on Sunday.
The DFA said that of the 131 Filipinos in Gaza, at least 78 are situated near the Rafah border crossing near Egypt while the rest left the northern part which is expected to be the main site of hostilities.
“The Philippine government continues to work on the repatriation of our nationals and will provide updates on developments,” the DFA said.
In a separate Viber message, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that with the raising of the alert level, the government is now “calling on our nationals to leave.”
“If they stay, they do so at their own very grave risk,” de Vega said.
Israel’s army earlier ordered all Palestinians to vacate the northern part of Gaza and Gaza City within 24 hours.* with PNA report
