Latest news with #OWWA
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Ilonggo seafarers who survive Red Sea attack return home
Three of four Ilonggo crew members of a cargo ship attacked by Houthi rebels at the Red Sea in Yemen have come home to Iloilo. Their families met them along with officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 6 and Public Employment Service Office-Iloilo. One of them is Rodmel Canto from the Municipality of Oton, while the others are from San Miguel and Iloilo City. The Ilonggo crew members of MV Eternity C survived the attack on July 8, 2025. The fourth Ilonggo seafarer from San Miguel has chosen to stay in Metro Manila yet, as of this writing. However, the three Ilonggo seafarers refused GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas an interview. According to OWWA 6, they will continue to coordinate with the three for psychosocial counseling. Meanwhile, the search for four other crew members from Western Visayas who are among 13 missing persons continues, as of posting time.
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
First Lady Liza Marcos visits Bahay Kalinga in Saudi
First Lady Louise 'Liza' Araneta-Marcos visited the Bahay Kalinga temporary accommodations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia over the weekend. As part of her working visit there, the First Lady met with distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), mothers, and children, delivering the message that they were coming home. Her visit marked the first time a Philippine First Lady visited Bahay Kalinga, which is a temporary accommodation facility for OFWs awaiting repatriation in Saudi Arabia. During the visit, the First Lady listened to the stories of hardship, quiet strength, and hope of the OFWs. As directed by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) facilitated the safe repatriation of 43 distressed OFWs and eight minor dependents, including those with medical needs. Each repatriate received financial and reintegration assistance — ?50,000 from DMW, ?10,000 from OWWA plus Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay aid, ?10,000 from DSWD, and ?60,000 from the Office of the President — along with travel luggage and essentials from the First Lady. The OWWA also provided transportation and temporary accommodation support for the OFWs who are returning to Visayas and Mindanao. Meanwhile, the First Lady also visited the Bagong Bayani ng Mundo Serbisyo Caravan, where she met OFWs availing themselves of services from frontline agencies. It was the first time a wide array of government agencies — including DMW, OWWA, PhilHealth, SSS, Pag-IBIG, DTI, Landbank, DSWD, PAO, and PSA — came together in one caravan to bring services to OFWs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Filipino Times
Serbisyo Caravan to launch in Riyadh, PH gov't to bring full services to OFWs
OFWs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be the first in the Middle East to benefit from the 'Bagong Bayani ng Mundo: OFW Serbisyo Caravan,' launching on July 18, 2025, at the Green Hall Bowling Center in Riyadh. The initiative, led by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), aims to deliver whole-of-government services directly to Filipinos abroad, with various national agencies participating, expecting to serve around 4,500 individuals. Joining the DMW are the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Public Attorney's Office, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Social Security System, Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Philippine Statistics Authority. Attendees can avail of services including legal consultations, counseling, welfare and livelihood assistance, OWWA e-card processing, contract verification, national ID application, business support, and membership verification with various agencies. DMW officials Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay and Assistant Secretary Venecio V. Legaspi, along with OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan and Labor Attaché Atty. Dominador Salanga, will lead the event. The Serbisyo Caravan will also be held in the UAE at the Dubai World Trade Center on August 3.
Filipino Times
7 days ago
- Filipino Times
8 Filipino Seafarers Attacked in Red Sea Return Safely Home, Gov't Extends Full Support
Eight Filipino seafarers from the MV Eternity C, who were caught in two Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea earlier this month, have arrived safely in the Philippines. They landed at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City on July 16, 2025, via flight SV870. Their homecoming was facilitated through the coordinated efforts of various Philippine agencies, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive. The seafarers had been working on a Greek-managed cargo vessel when it was attacked on July 7 and 8. Support teams from the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah ensured their safety and immediate assistance prior to repatriation. The returning seafarers will receive financial aid, medical care, and reintegration support from the DMW's AKSYON Fund, OWWA, DSWD, DOH, DOTr, and TESDA to help them transition back to life with their families.
GMA Network
7 days ago
- GMA Network
8 Pinoy crew members of MV Eternity C arrived home — Palace
Eight of the 21 Filipino crew members of the MV Eternity C, which was attached by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, arrived in Manila on Wednesday. This development was announced by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro at Thursday's press briefing. According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), they arrived via flight SV870 at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City. They were welcomed by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and other government executives. The seafarers were among the crew members of the MV Eternity C, which was attacked twice by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea last July 7 and 8. The Eternity C had 22 crew members on board, comprised of one Russian and 21 Filipino crew members. Reuters earlier reported that three guards were also on the vessel. Last Saturday, the DMW said it was verifying reports that three Filipino crew members were killed during the attack. Search and rescue operations were conducted for the remaining 13 Filipino seafarers. The Department of Foreign Affairs had said two Filipino seafarers aboard the MV Eternity C were "most likely" killed. The DMW has suspended the license of the principal and manning agency of the 21 Filipino seafarers aboard the ill-fated ship. Meanwhile, the eight returning Filipino crew members were provided with immediate assistance and support from the coordinated efforts of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) - Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Team and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The crew members also received financial assistance through the DMW's AKSYON Fund, OWWA's Emergency Repatriation Fund, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); medical care from the Department of Health (DOH); assistance from the New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC) under the Department of Transportation (DOTR); and comprehensive reintegration support from the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other members of the National Reintegration Network for their smooth transition as well as for their productive and sustainable reintegration back with their families. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
