(Photo/ DMW Facebook page)
By Katrina Gracia Consebido
Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople sent a high-level team to Kuwait to assess the living conditions of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) staying at the Bahay Kalinga shelter in Kuwait.
This followed a virtual inspection on the condition of around 400 OFWs at the government-run shelter.
“First order of business ay dalawin ang shelter. Tiyakin na may full time staff na mag-aasikaso sa pangangailangan ng ating mga OFWs doon,” Ople said.
“Dapat may mga medical staff na tututok sa mga may sakit at nakakaranas ng depresyon,” she added.
Ople tasked Undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare Services Hans Cacdac to lead the team which arrived in Kuwait on Saturday, Jan. 14.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Arnell Ignacio and Social Welfare Attaché Bernard Bonino also joined Cacdac in Kuwait.
“Mahalaga na very humane, dignified, comfortable and safe ang shelters na ating temporary residences for our distressed OFWs across the globe,” Ople said.
She also mentioned that they are planning to relocate the shelters to newer and larger facilities that can provide a more comfortable and secure environment for its OFW residents.
The DMW is also tapping on the expertise of social welfare attaches of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to improve OFW shelters abroad. -ag
