100 OFW families in Malolos receive aid amid Middle East conflict
Malolos City Mayor Christian D. Natividad personally hands P10,000 in aid to each representative of OFW families stranded in the Middle East conflict. (Photo by Freddie Velez)
One hundred families of Bulacan Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) affected by the conflict in the Middle East received financial assistance from Malolos City government on Thursday, March 19.
Mayor Christian D. Natividad led the distribution of P10,000 each to the OFW families at City Hall.
He said the number of beneficiaries is expected to rise, as many residents are no longer receiving remittances from relatives stranded abroad due to the ongoing war.
Natividad explained that the stoppage of remittances has left families struggling to pay for food and tuition.
“Naghihirap sila ngayon, hindi alam kung saan kukuha ng pambili ng pagkain at pambabayad ng tuition sa kanilang mga anak na nag-aaral (They are suffering now, not knowing where to get money for their daily needs),” he said, adding that the city will continue to provide support to affected households.
Apart from the initial 100 families, more than 200 others have registered for aid, with numbers projected to increase further.
The mayor emphasized that assistance is not limited to OFW families but is available to all residents facing hardship.
Funds are sourced from the city’s Extraordinary Fund.
The city government is also preparing financial packages for fishermen, tricycle drivers, jeepney operators, and other workers vital to the local economy.
While national aid for transport workers is set at P5,000, Malolos plans to provide P3,000 locally, with possible increases pending approval by the City Board.
Natividad likewise announced the implementation of a four-day workweek, from Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., aimed at improving efficiency and reducing operational costs.