6 Pinoys affected by Italy quake arrive home

MANILA, Philippines - The first batch of Filipinos affected by the recent strong earthquake in Italy arrived in Manila on Wednesday morning, the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) said.

Only six Filipinos have been repatriated so far after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the Italian city of L'Aquila on April 6. L’Aquila is the capital of Abruzzo and is approximately two to three hours from Rome.

OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon accompanied the group and offered them repatriation and livelihood loans in behalf of Labor Secretary Marianito Roque. Dimzon also reportedly met with other Filipinos whose homes have been leveled in the strong earthquake.

The six repatriated Filipinos were identified as Marvin Gacayan, Beatrice Gacayan, Irish Faye Gacayan, Krizelle Maye Gacayan, Jennifer Molina and Samantha Molina.

Dimzon said those who want to return to the Philippines must first secure their passports and other necessary travel documents that might have been buried in the rubble.

Officials from OWWA’s Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), stayed behind in Italy to assist other Filipino victims and help those who wish to Manila.

OWWA gave 450 euros each [roughly P28, 000] to the Filipinos who were temporarily sheltered in emergency tents in Italy.

Those returning home would take a free three-day course on entrepreneurship, while the OWWA’s Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund will loan them P50,000 to jump-start their business .

Dimzon added that borrowers would start paying only after three months without the five-percent interest.

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas estimated that there were more than 120,000 Filipinos in Italy in 2007.

Of the number, almost 83,000 are contract workers while more than 24, 000 are permanent residents. About 150 Filipinos were reportedly in L'Aquila when the earthquake struck. - Maria Katrina Elaine Alba, with Mark Ubalde, GMANews.TV

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