Family of papal volunteer assured of aid

MANILA, Philippines - Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz yesterday promised the family of Kristel Padasas that they would be provided with all assistance “on the account of their being an overseas Filipino worker family.”

Padasas, 27, died after she was hit by a collapsing scaffolding at the Tacloban airport after a mass celebrated by Pope Francis last Saturday. She was a volunteer of the Catholic Relief Service.

The victim’s mother, Judy Cleofe, has been a domestic worker in Hong Kong for 19 years and is an active member of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Judy, who hails from Buhi, Camarines Sur, arrived from Hong Kong early yesterday to attend the wake of her daughter at their home in Barangay Signal Village in Taguig City.

Baldoz said Judy has many options of assistance. She can have “job referrals for local and overseas employment if she decides to stay in the country for good and pursue wage employment, and business counseling and financial literacy training if she chooses to engage in business.”

The mother can also avail of a business loan from the P2-billion loan facility of OWWA where a member or her/his legal dependent can avail of between P300,000 to P2 million to finance a business.

Another option is the Balik-Pinas, Balik Hanap Buhay program of the Department of Labor and Employment and OWWA. Under this program, displaced or distressed OFWs can have grant of small livelihood starter kit worth P7,500 or a livelihood grant assistance of P10,000. – With Mike Frialde