Caring For Our Own

It is laudable how the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) spared no time, effort, or resources in repatriating almost four hundred (400) Filipino overseas workers caught in the Sudan armed conflict. Not only was the assistance of the two government agencies in bringing them back home delivered in a timely fashion, but they also reached out to the OFWs and offered them livelihood aid of up to one hundred thousand pesos (100K) each, on top of the initial two hundred dollars ($200) that forty-one (41) of them had received when they evacuated to Egypt from Sudan. Other assistance provided to them were airport and food assistance, along with hotel accommodation while waiting for their flights to Visayas and Mindanao, and transportation assistance.

It has been reported that background information on the repatriated workers has been collected to explore reintegration and redeployment options.

This is the first time we have seen such exemplary public service in a long time in any government agency that exceeds all our expectations. Kudos to DMW Secretary Susan Ople and newly appointed OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio, a former migrant worker himself. Through their example of leadership, this crisis reminds us all what genuine public servants ought to do- the right thing, at the right time, in the right way.

QUOTATION FOR THE WEEK:

“NEVER BELIEVE THAT A FEW CARING PEOPLE CAN’T CHANGE THE WORLD, FOR INDEED, THAT’S ALL WHO EVER HAVE” -Margaret Mead

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“BUT HE THAT IS GREATEST AMONG YOU SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT” -Matthew 20:28