The provincial government of Pangasinan spearheaded by Gov. Amado I. Espino III is doing its best effort to successfully facilitate an unhampered mass transport of about 565 repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) thru the OWWA’s “Tulong-Sundo sa OFWs Project.”
With this, the provincial government mobilizes two provincial buses, one 6×6 rescue truck and support personnel on a 24-hour basis at the drop-off point in TPLEX-Urdaneta Exit Point.
OWWA will take charge in transporting the workers from Manila to the said drop-off point.
Hence, the returning Pangasinense OFWs are now returning to their respective localities this week starting May 26 up to Saturday, May 30.
To ensure the smooth facilitation of the activity, the Task Force for the Repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Pangasinan which was formed by the Governor Espino convened on May 26 at the PESO conference hall to thresh out plans for the said project.
The emergency meeting which was headed by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Margilou Orange Humilde-Verzosa, the designated Task Force chairman, and was attended by PNP Provincial Director Redrico Maranan along with representatives of different member offices like PESO, DILG, PDRRMO, PEO, PIO and PHO came up with the following recommendations notably:
“We will ask the support of the LGUs to help us pick up kasi ang concern natin dito ay maging maayos ang pagdating ng ating mga OFWs,” BM Orange, also the SP Committee chair on OFWs said.
As such, the PDRRMO will coordinate with the LGUs throughout the province by sending them letters regarding the repatriation scheme.
“We will make sure that the buses of the province will be available in Urdaneta TPLEX on a 24-hour basis to transport the repatriated workers back home,” BM Orange stressed as she added that LGUs are also allowed to fetch from the drop-off point to their respective locality if they want to.
Meanwhile, the PDRRMO represented by Ms. Avenix Arenas stated that their office will coordinate with the LGUs throughout the province regarding the matter.
PD Maranan, on the other hand, ensure that the PNP will extend full support to the project as he proposed that a system be established and should be properly coordinated with OWWA. “Representative from OWWA ay dapat nandoon sa drop-off point,” he said.
On May 25, newly-designated PNP Regional Director General Azurin, Jr. paid a courtesy call on Governor Espino and they discussed how to effectively facilitate the transport of repatriated OFWs from Pangasinan.
At present, two buses of the provincial government, one 6 x 6 rescue truck of the PDRRMO and one vehicle of the Philippine Nationa Police are on duty 24 hours a day to fetch repatriated OFWs from TPLEX-Urdaneta exit point and bring them to their respective municipalities or cities. Other towns brought their own vehicles to fetch the repatriated OFWs.
Launched last March 17 by OWWA, Tulong-Sundo sa OFW is a free transportation assistance for returning Pangasinense OFWs affected by the travel restriction as the entire Luzon was earlier placed under enhanced Community Quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the provincial government has been requested by the OWWA to help provide transportation assistance to the workers who have completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine and swab test.
/Ruby R. Bernardino (Photos by Ron Bince and Jinver Perez)
