Abused OFW comes home

NABUNTURAN COMVAL PROVINCE- An abused Overseas Filipino Worker from Compostela Valley province arrived safe in the country after concerted efforts from the congressmen from her home province.

As early as February of this year, after family members reported the maltreatment suffered abroad by Grace Aradilla to former district representative Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, the venerable Way Kurat called for help from incumbent Compostela Valley representatives Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay and Rommel Amatong.

Grace Aradilla hails from Purok 1, Barangay Libasan, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province, and had gone to Kuwait to work as a household domestic.

Rep. Zamora-Apsay, as the incumbent Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers’ Affairs (COWA), took the lead in calling labor and embassy officials’ attention to assist Ms. Aradilla.

Zamora-Apsay and Amatong jointly wrote the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (Department of Foreign Affairs) and Labor Attaché David Des Dicang of the Embassy of the Philippines in Kuwait for assistance.

Following intervention of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), under the direction of Labor Attaché Dicang, the POLO, the permit of the foreign recruitment agency (FRA), Sarah Ayed Matar Al Shammari, was suspended pending a thorough investigation of the actions of its agents in not only failing to assist Grace Aradilla, but also in misleading her and the POLO on her circumstances.

Rep. Zamora-Apsay was instrumental in coordinating and notifying the authorities of Grace’s situation over the last few months. In several communications, the young solon updated officials of first-hand reports from Grace herself, serving as a feedback and monitoring system all throughout.

“Were it not for the unwavering efforts of our officials, especially the personal attention paid by no less than Labor Attaché David Des Dicang in attending to this case, Grace is finally home. Labor Attaché Dicang personally called Grace in the middle of the storm of confusion, and he and his team from the Assistance-to-Nationals Unit, POLO and OWWA, have all been instrumental in ensuring that Grace came home, and they have our undying gratitude,” Rep. Zamora-Apsay said.

Finally, after months of discussion, negotiation and documentation, the OWWA confirmed in a report that Grace Aradilla arrived via Gulf Air on July 17, 2012, and is safely back in the country.

 “In Grace’s case, had it not been for the compulsory insurance policy required by R.A. No. 10022 for migrant workers, it would have taken much, much longer for her to come home. My father’s legacy in ensuring the passage of R.A. No. 10022 during his time emphasizes that we cannot be careful enough in sending our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers abroad. We will continue to work to keep families together through not only ensuring the application of laws that protect our OFWs, but also through the provision of economic stability and opportunity,” added the lawmaker. ( OFFICE OF CONG. MARIA CARMEN ZAMORA-APSAY)