By Vincent P. Grecia
The Iloilo provincial government has launched a 24/7 operation to help Ilonggo Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. ordered the reactivation of the provincial government’s 24/7 Operation Bulig Ilonggo Migrants Desk to attend to OFWs and their families who are caught in the middle of the ongoing tension between Israel and Palestine.
The help desk will be managed by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Provincial Civil Defense Office.
“We want to let them know that we have a help desk that will assist them in times of crisis,” PESO head Francisco Heler Jr. said.
The provincial government also reactivated its Task Force Bulig Ilonggo and created a social media chat to proactively respond to the families of war victims.
OIC-Governor and Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said he is closely coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
He said the provincial government will extend immediate assistance to the Ilonggo victims.
“The governor also gave instructions that our OpCen will proactively call or inform our local government units and even the barangays just in case they receive a report of an Ilonggo affected by the war. Governor Toto is closely monitoring the situation and also the Opcen,” Banias said.
IGovernor Defensor issued Executive Order No. 004 Series of 2020 creating the Task Force Bulig Ilonggo for OFWs and their families in war-crises-prone areas in the Middle East and establishing an assistance desk.
Families of Ilonggos affected by the Israel-Hamas War, may call the following hotlines: 0998 968 6800; 0998 968 6801; 0961 680 4428; 0977 451 7156; 0998 357 5791; 0921 952 8750; 0916 758 3156; and 0917 754 3833. (Capitol news)
