DOLE provides aid to kin of OFWs killed in NLEX road crash

FILE: Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III at the recently concluded Employers Forum at the Clark Freeport Zone. (Photo: DOLE Central Luzon/Facebook)

MANILA — The families of the five overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who died in a road mishap at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Pampanga last week got financial assistance from the government on Friday.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Cacdac and the officials of the First Personnel Services, Inc. and Sir Prince Global Services, Inc., facilitated the release of the PHP200,000 cash assistance to each of the families of the victims, four of whom are husbands of the victims while the other one is the mother of the one of the OFWs.

“Plus, they are entitled to livelihood assistance and then again their children, if there are any, will be covered with the scholarship program,” Bello said after the awarding of financial assistance at his office in Manila.

With this, Bello added that the eight other victims that were injured in road accident last March 23, that are being treated at a hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga are also entitled to cash and livelihood assistance.

“And just like any other OFW, as part of the reintegration program, ‘yung mga anak nila kung meron ma-cover ng scholarship program ng OWWA. Up to college yan (their children will be covered by scholarship program from OWWA, if any. That is up to college),” the DOLE chief added.

Josefina Flores, mother of 32-year-old Mila Flores, one of the victims of the fatal road mishap, expressed gratitude to the government and the recruitment agencies for the financial and livelihood assistance.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa lahat ng tulong (We are thankful for this aid),” she said, adding that the cash assistance will be used to acquire a property in Pozzorubio, Pangasinan, where they reside.

Also, part of it will be allotted for the education of the five children left behind by her daughter, who is a first time OFW.

The young Flores was employed as a household service worker in Saudi Arabia.

The victims were aboard a van on the way to the Clark International Airport to catch their flight when the tire of their vehicle blew out along the NLEX.

The impact of the blown tire caused the door of the van to open, resulting in some passengers being thrown out of the vehicle.