Filipinos in Rome appeal to PH gov't to help displaced OFWs
Published Mar 24, 2020 12:00 am
By Roy Mabasa
Two Rome-based Filipino nationals on Tuesday called on the Philippine government to extend help to displaced overseas Filipino workers in Italy following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in that country.
(FILE PHOTO/MANILA BULLETIN)
Filipino expatriates Zenaida Barro and Billy Costales shared their concerns for the displaced OFWs in Italy during an online conversation with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security Brigido Dulay at the “Laging Handa” daily live telecast of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID).
“The main worries of the Filipinos here are their families left behind in the Philippines. That is if the (Philippine) government can help them to alleviate their worries,” said Barros who also narrated the sufferings currently being experienced in Italy due to the worldwide pandemic.
She said many Filipinos, especially those employed in the service sectors like hotels and restaurants are the ones affected by the implementation of the lockdown in Italy.
Costales, for his part, said it would be better if the government can also consider helping the families of OFWs back in the Philippines.
“Maraming Pilipino ang natatrabaho pa din, lalo na yung may kontrata. Karamihan mga part timers no-work-no-pay, napipilitan pumasok dahil wala silang susuwelduhin. Kung may tulong ang gobyerno, maganda sana para dun sa mga pamilyang naiwan sa Pilipinas (There are still a lot of Filipinos working, especially those with contracts. But for the many part-timers, it’s no-work-no-pay. They are obliged to work because they will not have a salary. It would be best if the government could help their families who are in the Philippines)," Costales said.
In response, Dulay said the Department of Foreign Affairs, together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), are now discussing ways on how to deploy the assistance to the families of the affected OFWs.
The DFA official also asked the Filipino community in Italy to regularly monitor the official websites of the Philippine Embassy and Consulates where advisories and updates on the current COVID-19 situation in that country are being posted.
(FILE PHOTO/MANILA BULLETIN)
Filipino expatriates Zenaida Barro and Billy Costales shared their concerns for the displaced OFWs in Italy during an online conversation with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security Brigido Dulay at the “Laging Handa” daily live telecast of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID).
“The main worries of the Filipinos here are their families left behind in the Philippines. That is if the (Philippine) government can help them to alleviate their worries,” said Barros who also narrated the sufferings currently being experienced in Italy due to the worldwide pandemic.
She said many Filipinos, especially those employed in the service sectors like hotels and restaurants are the ones affected by the implementation of the lockdown in Italy.
Costales, for his part, said it would be better if the government can also consider helping the families of OFWs back in the Philippines.
“Maraming Pilipino ang natatrabaho pa din, lalo na yung may kontrata. Karamihan mga part timers no-work-no-pay, napipilitan pumasok dahil wala silang susuwelduhin. Kung may tulong ang gobyerno, maganda sana para dun sa mga pamilyang naiwan sa Pilipinas (There are still a lot of Filipinos working, especially those with contracts. But for the many part-timers, it’s no-work-no-pay. They are obliged to work because they will not have a salary. It would be best if the government could help their families who are in the Philippines)," Costales said.
In response, Dulay said the Department of Foreign Affairs, together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), are now discussing ways on how to deploy the assistance to the families of the affected OFWs.
The DFA official also asked the Filipino community in Italy to regularly monitor the official websites of the Philippine Embassy and Consulates where advisories and updates on the current COVID-19 situation in that country are being posted.