Deployment of social welfare attachès to help distressed OFWs pushed

AMID REPORTED SUICIDES

A senator on Wednesday pushed for the passage of a bill that will put a social welfare office in every Philippine overseas post following the reported suicide of two Filipino workers in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
"We believe that having permanent social welfare attachés in our embassies can help prevent incidents of suicide and cases of abuse against our modern-day heroes," said Senator Joel Villanueva, author of Senate Bill No. 1819 or An Act Establishing The Office For Social Welfare Attaché.
According to Villanueva, the bill provides for the following:
- adequate and timely social, economic and legal services to OFWs;
- deployment of social welfare attachés to manage cases of OFWs in distress; and
- ensures coordination among agencies and various groups to address the psychosocial needs of distressed OFWs.
Villanueva made the call after two Filipino household service workers were found dead in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia from what is believed to be suicide. Authorities have yet to determine if there is foul play involved in their deaths.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had earlier said the Philippine embassies in Beirut and Riyadh are closely coordinating with investigating authorities "to see to it that there was no foul play in the deaths of the two Filipina domestic workers."
Villanueva urged the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the DFA "to provide all necessary assistance to our fallen OFWs and their loved ones." —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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