OVERSEAS Filipino Worker (OFW) Marites Arcega from Barangay Pantal was teary-eyed when she went to the office of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez last May 3 to personally thank her for helping in her repatriation from Saudi Arabia where she suffered from maltreatment from an abusive employer.

Arcega, 24, left home to work in Saudi Arabia as a domestic helper on January 9 this year, hoping to earn money that will help her family.

But her dream of giving her family a little comfort turned into a nightmare with the abuse from her employer.

She related how she was made to work starting from 3:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the next day, providing service to her employer’s big extended family, deprived of food, and locked at her employer’s house with no means of communication.

Arcega, nonetheless, kept her mobile phone hidden from her employer but since it was not loaded with credit, she could not contact anyone.

Then came a call from her parents in Dagupan and she related her pitiful condition.

Arcega’s mother and live-in partner sought the help of the office of Fernandez through the OFW Desk headed by Public Employment Service Officer Joy Siapno located at the ground floor of City Hall Complex.

Fernandez then sought the assistance of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for Arcega’s repatriation.

The Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia took immediate action to locate her and she returned home last April 29.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako at mabilis ang ginawang pagtulong sa akin ni Mayor Belen at ang OFW Desk,” Arcega said.

The mayor further helped her get a fresh start in life by providing livelihood assistance through the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

She now works as at the Headzone Salon and her live-in partner at the CSI Department Store.

“Like Marites, all of us want to give our family a better life by working abroad but sometimes you can’t avoid to have an abusive employer,” Fernandez said as she encouraged all Dagupeño OFWs to register at the OFW Desk which provides services such as a pre-departure seminar and briefing, among others.

Arcega was the third OFW rescued with the help of Fernandez and the OFW Desk. The two others were a father and son from Bonuan who stayed long at the tent city in Riyadh after fleeing from their employers. (CIO)

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