By Hannah Torregoza Senator Risa Hontiveros is seeking a Senate inquiry into the government’s plans and programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and their families who were greatly affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Sen. Risa Hontiveros (Senator Risa Hontiveros / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Hontiveros, in filing Senate Resolution No. 445, said it is imperative that the government’s return and reintegration programs respond to the needs of the OFWs and their families, particularly in the area of their mental health, psycho-social needs, and finances. “We must put an end to the suffering of our migrant workers and their families during this pandemic,” Hontiveros said. “Dapat may malinaw tayong plano para tugunan ang financial, medical, at mental health needs ng dumaraming bilang ng OFW na bumabalik sa bansa (The government should have a clear plan on how it should address the financial, medical, and mental health needs of OFWs who are returning to the country),” she said. The senator also said the government must have a comprehensive plan in place to address the needs of around 300,000 OFWs who are expected to return home to the Philippines this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is essential that the government’s return and reintegration programs take the needs of OFWs and their families into account in developing and implementing financial aid programs for households in distress, mental health and psycho-social services, and medical assistance in relation to COVID-19, including mandatory testing,” the senator said. She also said it is necessary for the government to ensure it can provide long-term assistance to the OFWs since there is uncertainty on whether they can return to their jobs abroad. “Hindi lang ang mas mabilis na testing at mas maayos na biyahe pauwi ang dapat siguraduhin ng pamahalaan para sa ating OFWs (the government should not only be concerned about providing OFWs faster testing and a safe return to their hometown),” she said. “Dapat may long-term assistance din sa kanilang kabuhayan at kalusugan ngayong marami ang matagal pa o hindi na makakabalik sa kanilang trabaho abroad (There should be long-term assistance for their livelihood and health since most of them will have to wait for a long time before they can return to work or perhaps they can no longer go back to their jobs abroad,” she added. She also said the government must be ready to provide ample livelihood assistance to OFWs, particularly female workers, who are likely to suffer more from the loss of jobs and livelihood brought about by the pandemic. Citing a study done by Estrella Dizon Añonueva and Augustus Añonuevo on “Women, Migration, and Reintegration,” Hontiveros noted that majority of Filipina migrants do not have any substantial savings, and have more difficulty in adjusting to the lack of economic opportunities in the Philippines. The government's programs for OFWs, she said, must also extend to social and mental health assistance for OFW families dealing with the sudden return and reintegration of their OFW family members into their households and communities. “The government has to help our OFWS overcome these unseen but important issues,” Hontiveros said.