AFTER seeing a deluge of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking shelter, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is now looking at building a bigger facility in Kuwait.
In an online press briefing, DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said they are now exploring the possibility of establishing a bigger “Bahay Kalinga” center in Kuwait.
“Based on our ocular inspection, the current place is not conducive to the good health and comfort of our workers,” said Cacdac.
“We are looking really at a building since what we have now is like an apartelle design in a three-storey building. We hope to have a bigger facility,” he added.
Cacdac said the facility they are looking at should go beyond the provision of accommodation to distressed OFWs.
“The (DMW) Secretary (Susan Ople) gave instructions that the new shelter should have enough room for learning sessions that can be offered to residents on financial literacy, mental wellness, and TESDA courses for skills upgrades,” Cacdac said.
According to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the bigger facility is part of their response to the high number of distressed OFWs in Kuwait seeking help from the Philippine government.
“In order to prevent a repeat of this predicament of seeing an increase in the number of distressed OFWs, we need to be better prepared,” said OWWA Administrator Arnel Ignacio.
“Bahay Kalinga” is a shelter for distressed OFWs in the host country that is being run by the Philippine government.
Recently, the number of distressed OFWs in the Kuwait facility reached a high 421.
