OFWs still in Libya should brace for the worst
March 4, 2011
MANILA, Philippines – The government yesterday advised the more than 10,000 Filipinos still in Libya to brace for more tension and possible violence as Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi makes a final effort to stay in power.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Filipinos in the whole of Libya have been reminded to just stay in their houses and worksites and avoid traveling by land in the next days.
“There were reports that Gadhafi and his supporters are making a last stand to protect his power and get back those areas already in the hands of rebels, so we are calling on our workers to stay where they are. Traveling by land at this time is already very dangerous in the whole of Libya,” Baldoz said.
Baldoz also expressed fear that the scheduled repatriation of about a thousand workers from Tripoli today may be delayed due to the scheduled massive protest action by Gadhafi’s supporters.
“The government chartered ship is expected to dock in Tripoli port Friday, but it could not immediately move out workers to Crete because pro-Gadhafi supporters are reportedly planning a massive protest action,” Baldoz said.
Baldoz said about 700 workers staying at Philippine government-run relocation centers are among those expected to board the ship to Crete, from where they would take a flight to Manila.
Although thousands have opted to stay in Libya, the number of returning workers is still expected to swell by weekend with the arrival of those who were evacuated from Egypt, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates.
“About 3,000 workers, including those awaiting repatriation in Dubai, are expected to arrive by weekend,” Baldoz said, noting that around 700 are also scheduled to return from Crete tomorrow
So far, Baldoz said 1,576 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have returned safely from Libya.
P100-M budget
The government has allocated P100 million to provide alternative source of livelihood for the thousands of returning workers from Libya.
Baldoz said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) board of trustees has already approved the release of P100 million for the displaced workers.
From the P100-million budget, Baldoz said the government would be providing P10,000 relief assistance for the thousands of workers who have arrived home since Saturday.
“The P10,000 is a one-time grant to each qualified displaced OFW to help them undergo adjustments in their communities. The grant is part of the government’s repatriation assistance program for OFWs which aims to cushion the impact of employment and income displacement affecting the overseas workers upon their repatriation to the country,” Baldoz said.
She said those who want to avail of the program must present either their passport, travel document or two valid ID cards with pictures to OWWA offices near their residences.
“For OFWs to qualify for the financial grant, they shall be required to show proof of travel from conflict-stricken countries and that their names are included in the list of repatriates maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment or the OWWA,” Baldoz said.
Apart from the financial support for the displaced workers, the government has also readied a package of assistance that includes psychosocial counseling, skills training and upgrading, referral and placement assistance for local and overseas employment, entrepreneurial and management training, and business loans.
“The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is also offering free skills assessment to returning OFWs nationwide starting March 23,” Baldoz said.
Meanwhile, the DOLE has expanded the operations of Task Force Middle East to provide immediate assistance for workers from Libya.
“The Task Force is not only on a 24/7 monitoring and assessment mode. It is also providing round-the-clock coordination services and action follow-through with our POLOs in the Middle East, particularly Libya, so that the government’s evacuation and repatriation efforts will be faster,” Baldoz said.
A total of 27 former POLO administrative staff have been assigned in groups of two at the center. On a 12-hour shift schedule, they are to provide staff support to the labor attachés on duty.
Upgrade program
Meantime, the militant group Migrante International yesterday urged the government to upgrade its reintegration program so as to cushion the economic impact of the Libyan crisis.
Migrante said displaced OFWs once again would be confronted by grinding poverty due to the worsening economic condition and therefore would need significant assistance from the government. – With Jose Rodel Clapano
Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=662827&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Categories
- 19th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark
- 2012 Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Philippines Ticket Reservation Form Support Section
- About Angeles City, Pampanga
- About Anti-mosquito patches to prevent Dengue in Philippines
- About Asian cuisine and food of Asia
- About Clark Development Corporation CDC
- About Clark, Freeport Zone
- About Coffee
- About Easter in Clark Philippines
- About Family Bonding and Children
- About Fishing
- About Holy Week and Easter in Philippines
- About Holy Week and Easter in Philippines
- About Hot Air Balloon
- About Italian Food
- About Leisure, Stress and Relaxation
- About Mother's Day and Mother's Day Celebration
- About Nespresso Coffee, Nespresso Coffee Capsules and Pods
- About spa, places to unwind and relax
- About Subic, Baguio and Bulacan
- About the Philippines
- About the Philippines, Pampanga, Clark, and Angeles City
- About Wedding and Receptions
- Advisory and useful travel tips
- Alfresco Outdoor Dining in Clark
- All about Steaks
- All about steaks
- All News & Press Releases Archive
- Articles About Holy Week in Philippines
- Beach resorts and hotels in Clark
- Birthday, debut, baptismal, anniversary etc
- Boating and Kayaking
- Build or buy a house in Clark
- Business and investment in Clark
- Business in Clark
- Business Opportunities in Clark
- Camping and picnic
- Car and Taxi Service in Clark
- Clark
- Clark Events Archive
- Clark Flight schedules
- Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival
- Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival Complaints and Suggestions
- Clark Information
- Clark Investments Archive
- Clark Job Market Archive
- Clark Map
- Company outings and corporate events
- Condominium and Apartment in Clark
- Convenience Stores in Clark
- Corruption in Philippines, Pampanga, Subic, Clark Freeport Zone
- Culinary School in Philippines
- Doing Business in Clark
- Dormitory and Apartment Sharing
- Duty free malls in Clark
- Entertainment
- Event Venues in Clark and Pampanga
- Family outings, reunions and retreats
- Family restaurants and Fast food outlets
- Family retreat, picnics and bonding
- Fine dining Gourmet Foie Gras Cuisine
- Fine Dining Gourmet Kangaroo Cuisine
- Fine Dining Kangaroo Cuisine
- Fine dining restaurants
- Food & Beverage Archive
- Food and Beverage in Clark
- Foreigner and Tourist Assistance in Clark Archive
- Functions and events
- Games and activities for outings and picnics
- Getting around in Clark
- Getting Married in Clark and Pampanga
- Golf
- Gourmet Dining Foie Gras
- Gourmet Dining Venison Cuisine
- Gourmet Venison Cuisine
- Highly Recommended Hotels and Resorts
- Historical sites, places to see and visit
- History of Clark
- Holding a Dinner Party
- Holiday and Vacation in Philippines
- Holy Week and Easter Holiday
- Holy Week and Easter in Clark Philippines
- Holy Week and Easter Packages and Deals
- Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Philippines
- Hot Air Balloon Packages & Deals
- Hotel Accommodations Archive
- HOTEL and RESORTS
- Hotels & Resorts in Angeles Pampanga
- Hotels & Resorts in Clark
- Hotels and Resorts in Pampanga
- Hotels and Resorts in Philippines
- Hotels and Resorts in the North
- Hotels and Resorts near Manila
- Internet WIFI spots in Clark Philippines
- Investing in Philippines
- Investment and business opportunities
- Investment in Philippines
- Italian, French and continental cuisine
- Jobs and Careers
- Jobs in Angeles, Clark, Pampanga
- Jobs in Manila, Philippines
- Korean, Chinese and Japanese Food
- Koreans in Philippines
- Land for development
- Laws and Regulations in Clark
- Learn about wine
- Learn English in Philippines
- Leisure and recreation
- Lifestyle in Asia
- Lifestyle in Clark and Pampanga
- Liquor and Wine Shops in Clark
- Listing of businesses in Clark
- Living in Clark and Pampanga
- Manila Bus Hostage Incident 2010
- More about Holy Week and Easter Holidays
- More About Philippines Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark Pampanga
- More about Weddings and receptions
- Mother's Day in Philippines
- News
- News about Hot Air Balloon
- News in Manila and North Luzon
- News in Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark, Subic
- Nightlife, casinos and entertainment
- Organizing a Cocktail Party
- Organizing company events
- Organizing Company outing
- Organizing Team Building Events
- Organizing Team Building Events
- Other restaurants, café and dining outlets
- Other shopping in Clark
- Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone or Establishment Grievances and Complaints
- Pampanga Information
- Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
- Philippines Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Pampanga
- Places to go in Clark Archive
- Politics and Opinion
- Press Releases
- Product launching and marketing events
- Real Estate, Properties and Deals
- Residential village and subdivision
- Restaurants and Bars in Clark, Pampanga
- Resto Bars, Clubs and Pubs
- Resume Database
- Retirement in Clark
- Retiring in Clark Archive
- Rules & Regulations of Clark Freeport
- Safety, Law and Order in Pampanga
- Scenic spots, tourist destinations in Clark
- School Camp in Clark
- School Camp in Philippines
- Shopping
- Shopping Archive
- Short-term lease
- Sightseeing and Tourist Spots
- Social and company events planning
- Sports and outdoor events
- Sports and Recreation in Clark and Pampanga
- Sports and Recreation in Clark Archive
- Swimming and Water sports
- Teambuilding and planning
- The Clark Lifestyle
- The Green World of Clark Philippines
- THINGS TO DO IN CLARK
- Tourism and Travel
- Tourism in Clark
- Travel Accommodations Archive
- Travel agencies and airline offices
- Trekking and horseback riding
- Vacation Rental
- Vegetarian Food and Vegan Cuisine
- Vegetarian food, vegan restaurants
- Vintners' Hall of Fame
- Visit Angeles City Pampanga
- Visit Clark Philippines
- Visit Manila Philippines
- Wedding Planners, Caterers & Event Venues in Philippines
- Wedding Planning, Organization and Services
- Wedding reception Venues in Clark
- What's Happening in Clark
- Wining & Dining Archive