Sexy star-turned-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Esther Margaux "Mocha" Uson recently brought "ayuda" or financial assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Western Visayas, the agency bared.
According to an OWWA statement on Tuesday, May 4, the delivery of the cash aid was made "in response to a call from Malacañang".
Accompanying Uson to Panay was Faustino "Mama Bubsie" Sabarez III, her fellow OWWA deputy administrator. The island was tagged as the "first leg" of their nationwide effort to assist OFWs.
Over 500,000 OFWs--most of them jobless as a result of the persisting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic--have been repatriated to the Philippines since the public health crisis began last year.
Uson and Sabarez delivered financial assistance packages under the “Balik Pinas Balik Hanap Buhay Program, Project Alalay Para sa mga Anak OFWs sa Panahon ng Pandemya”.
“We have received a call from the Malacañang, stating that President Duterte wishes to expedite the delivery of assistance to our OFWs. That is why we started this nationwide visit in Region 6," said Uson, also a popular blogger.
She led the awarding of OWWA education and livelihood assistance programs to OFWs in Aklan, followed by a similar turnover in Capiz.
After paying a courtesy visit to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Uson facilitated the awarding of financial assistance packages worth P20,000 to 50 OFW family-beneficiaries.
Despite their misfortune in the pandemic, the OFWs "remain as the Philippines' modern-day heroes", Uson insisted.
“Layunin ng mga assistance packages na ito na mabigyan sila ng karampatang tulong upang makaraos at tumayong matatag para sa kanilang mga pamilya habang nasa gitna pa tayo ng pandemya (These assistance packages aim to give them the jumpstart they need tp get back and stand stronger for their families amid the pandemic),” she added.
After Iloilo, Uson and Sabarez headed to the Negros provinces to continue the awarding of OWWA assistance packages to OFW beneficiaries.