Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Hans Leo Cacdac on Saturday, Sept. 19, assured that appropriate aid will be given to the two survivors of the ill-fated MV Gulf Livestock 1.
Cacdac said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello instructed him to provide all the necessary assistance to Eduardo Sareno and Jay-nel Rosales, who arrived home earlier today.
"Inutos ni Sec. Bello na siguraduhin na sila'y mabibigyan ng financial assistance, livelihood, saka scholarship ng kanilang mga anak (Secretary Bello has ordered to make sure that they will be given financial assistance, livelihood assistance and scholarships for their children)," he said in an interview over radio DZRH following their homecoming.
Sareno and Rosales were among the 43 crew members of the cattle ship that sank in Japan early this month. Aside from Bello and Cacdac, Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano who leads the IATF group for returning OFWs welcomed the two survivors.
"Sila naman ay mahinahon at kumbaga nagpapasalamat din na nakauwi sila at ligtas (They were calm and grateful that they were able to return home safely). And looking forward na lang sila na makita yong kani-kanilang mga pamilya (And they are looking forward to see their families)," the OWWA administrator said.
He said Sareno and Rosales specifically requested for privacy and did not entertain interviews from the media. Cacdac acknowledged their "extraordinary" physical and mental exhaustion.
After the two were processed in the airport, Cacdac said they were sent to a hotel quarantine facility where they would wait for the results of their swab test.
"The number one priority is to bring them home, utos din ni Pangulo yan sa pangkalahatan para sa nanunumbalik na OFWs (this was also the President's order for all returning OFWs)," he said.