THE provincial government is ready to assist repatriated Pangasinan Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) from the Middle East.

This was confirmed by Alex Ferrer, chief of the Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO) and Cris Dioquino, in charge of the Migrant Workers Welfare Office and OFW Desk at PESO.

Ferrer said while Pangasinan is the biggest source of OFWs in the Middle East, pointing out that last year alone, some 2,000 OFWs were recruited to various countries, it has not received any report from their families that a number are expected to return. 

Per Pangasinan PESO ‘s record, there are no Pangasinan OFWs in Iran and only a few are in Iraq. The biggest number of Pangasinan OFWs are in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubai, Oman, Israel Jordan Bahrain and the others.

Hence, he expressed optimism that there still will likely on a few who will opt to be repatriated as the tension between the United States and Iran has somewhat eased this week since Iran fired 12 missiles into two military bases in Iraq.

But repatriated Pangasinan OFWs can receive financial assistance through the Provincial Population and Cooperative Development Office to enable them to start small business and livelihood projects.

There will be skills training, like carpentry, masonry, and welding that they can use to engage in other income-earning activities.

Following guidance from the Department of Labor, Ferrer said the provincial government has stopped the deployment of domestic workers to the Middle East, particularly, Kuwait.

Meanwhile, Dioquino said relatives of Pangasinan OFWs can avail of PESO hotline tap to contact their relatives abroad for free. (Leonardo Micua)         

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