It’s sad to hear that instead of getting a good life from working abroad, there are Pinoys who are unfortunate went back in the country with nothing. These are the OFWs who are victim of illegal recruiters and abusive employers. There are also instances that they involved on an accident, and didn’t’ get any help from their employers.
Alfredo Salmos is one of Overseas Filipino Workers who went back in the country without anything except the electrical burn injuries that he got from his company in Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, Alfredo’s sister named Epifania Salmos-Colina was not lucky in Damman. She was maltreated by her employers.
I know for a fact that our government gives help to the needs of our repatriated OFWs. But this is not enough. Good thing to know there are concerned citizens, groups and organizations that willing to help to our kababayans.
Villar Foundation helped Epifania by providing her airfare going back in the country when she was in Saudi. And now, the foundation extended livelihood assistance to his brother and will also take care of his medical expenses.
“Dati si Epifania, ngayon si Alfredo, nakakalungkot na parehong hindi naging maganda ang karanasan ng magkapatid sa ibang bansa. I can only imagine the worry and despair that their mother went through and experienced twice over. But now, at least, they are all together as a family,” said Villar.
“While we are happy to be able to extend help whenever we can, we are saddened and concerned that many OFWs continue to face troubles abroad. It is good to that more concerned people and groups are joining in our efforts to assist OFWs,” added Villar.
A concerned pinoy who posted the picture of Alfredo on a social networking site and became viral that caught the attention of the government and various other groups to help him. Sagip-OFW and Villar Foundation are the organizations who responded immediately to his call of assistance.
Susan Ople, Head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a long-time partner of the Villar Foundation in its Sagip-OFW program, arranged the meeting of the Salmos siblings with Villar.
Cynthia Villar,managing director of Villar foundation, who’s continuing the OFW repatriation and livelihood assistance program since 2008. The Villar Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
In Novermber, the Villar Foundation will hold the 2nd OFW & Family Summit at the World Trade Center, which will provide a venue where OFWs and members of their families can learn entrepreneurial know-how through lectures from invited resource persons and look for business opportunities from exhibitors.
