ILOILO City – To ensure the safety of Ilonggos in Israel, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. appealed to local chief executives (LCEs) in the province, including barangay officials, to do an accounting and reporting.
The governor particularly wants LCEs to communicate on the ground, determine how many of their constituents are in Israel and ask about their well-being.
“Nag-ayu kita sa aton mga mayors nga magpa-radyo sa aton nga mga kapitan kag usisaon naton ang aton mga kabarangayan kon may kasimanwa kamo sa Israel para mabal-an kag makabulig man kita sa Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) kag national government agencies,” said Defensor.
The provincial government this week reactivated its 24/7 Operation Bulig Ilonggo Migrants Desk.
The help desk is managed by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), headed by Francisco Heler Jr., and the Provincial Civil Defense Office.
“Yes, tungod sang conflict sa Israel, but again, ang aton Bulig Ilonggo nga programa is a continuing program under the executive order that we issued nga kon may crisis gani kita sa iban nga pungsod ginatinguhaan naton nga makabulig man kita sa aton mga kasimanwa,” added Defensor.
The governor issued Executive Order No. 004 Series of 2020, creating the Task Force Bulig Ilonggo for OFWs and their families in war-crises-prone areas in the Middle East and establishing an assistance desk.
Anyone with information about any Ilonggo who may be affected by the conflict may call the following hotlines:
* 0998-968-6800
* 0998-968-6801
* 0961-680-4428
* 0977-451-7156
* 0998-357-5791
* 0921-952-8750
* 0916-758-3156, and
* 0917-754-3833.
As of this writing, the hotlines have not received any reports from the families or relatives of OFWs.
Based on the data PESO-Iloilo obtained from OWWA Region 6, 452 OFWs from the city and province of Iloilo are in Israel, mostly in Jerusalem.
Out of that number, 395 OFWs are from the province.
The provincial government also expressed willingness to extend assistance to repatriated OFWs, although at the frontlines of this are national government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Migrant Workers.
“Kon ano puede naton nga buligan, mabulig kita. We have to see first what is there because the national government is also mobilizing,” said Defensor, who is constantly coordinating and communicating with OWWA.
Jayrel Encontro, Labor and Employment Officer of PESO-Iloilo, said as of noontime yesterday, 153 OFWs from the province were accounted for by barangay officials and barangay PESO and were reported to the municipal PESO.
“May ara na kita 153 identified Ilonggo OFWs halin sa mga report sang aton municipal and barangay PESO and continuous ang aton coordination sa ila,” said Encontro, adding all are safe.
The 153 OFWs from the province were natives of Maasin (44), Tubungan (12), Barotac Nuevo (five), Estancia (one), Passi City (11), Calinog (five), Tigbauan (nine), Leon (15), San Joaquin (seven), Ajuy (six), Oton (six), Guimbal (three), Carles (one), Miag-ao (two), Lambunao (two), Batad (four), Balasan (three), Zarraga (four), Anilao (one), and Santa Barbara (eight)./PN
