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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider It's about gratitude: Villanueva tells gov't to give more aid to COVID-stricken OFWs in HK

It's about gratitude: Villanueva tells gov't to give more aid to COVID-stricken OFWs in HK

Published Mar 2, 2022 05:54 pm

Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday, March 2 called on the government to extend more financial assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) stricken with COVID-19 in Hong Kong as a way to pay them back for their sacrifices in helping the economy.

Villanueva said the 200,000 OFWs in Hong Kong must be given bigger cash aid by the government, considering "the amount of debt our country owes" to them.

"It's time to take it. And any change is just a coin to contribute to our economy," said Villanueva, who helped in the Senate's passage of the law creating the Department of Migrant Workers.

Villanueva commended the government's initial move of giving COVID-19-infected Filipinos in Hong Kong $200 in financial aid and offering them repatriation flights.

"Such repatriation flights are needed so that more seats are available to those who want to go home for whatever reason," he said.

But if a Navy ship can be sent to them as a fully-staffed floating hospital to accommodate Filipinos who are being turned away from Hong Kong hospitals, "then it would be of great help", said the lawmaker.

"It's only two or three sailing days from Manila, and there are AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) personnel and equipment available," he said.

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joel villanueva OFWs covid-19 HongKong 30222
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