594 OFW nahawa ng COVID-19, tulong kailangan din nila

UMABOT na sa 594 overseas Filipino workers ang nahawa ng coronavirus disease 2019.

Sa datos ng Department of Foreign Affairs, 68 OFW na ang nasawi sa COVID-19, 362 naman ang ginagamot at 164 na ang gumaling na.

 Kaya umapela si ACTS-OFW chairman John Bertiz sa gobyerno na bigyan din ng pansin ang mga OFW na nahihirapan din.

 “Our OFWs and their families have also to bear the heavy brunt of this coronavirus pandemic gripping the whole world, including the Philippines.  Like the rest of our people, they too are scared, hungry and insecure of their own survival, including a possible loss of jobs and livelihood,” ani Bertiz.

Umapela rin si Bertiz sa gobyerno na isama sa mga bibigyan ng cash subsidy ang pamilya ng mga OFW dahil gaya ng iba ay apektado rin sila ng Enhanced Community Quarantine.

“Our Filipino workers have long been risking their lives and safety abroad so that they can continue to support their families and loved ones here.  During this pandemic, we now cannot leave them out of the government cash subsidy just because they choose to work and sacrifice abroad.”

Dapat din umanong tulungan ang pamilya ng mga pumanaw na OFW sanhi ng COVID-19.

“Our concerned government agencies should also need to extend immediate assistance and support to the families of OFWs who died abroad due to the virus, withstanding cultural requirements and health restrictions.”

Maraming OFW rin ang nasa high risk areas, partikular ang mga health care workers at essential services providers, na nangangailangan ng sapat na proteksyon upang hindi mahawa.

    “I also appeal to the licensed local recruitment agencies and their foreign counterparts to check and monitor the condition of their deployed workers and find ways and means to assist them and their families, especially those who were displaced from their work.”