BACOLOD City Representative Anthony Golez wanted to find out the real score regarding the case of overseas contract workers from Bacolod City who worked in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He said he was told by an official from PERT/CPM Manpower Inc. that they offered the seven overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with plane tickets but they refused to accept them.
Golez said he wants to see those OFWs who have already returned home and discuss their plight in Dammam because he does not want similar thing to happen in the future.
"I want to find out the real score," he said.
The OFWs are Manny Berueda of Mandalagan, Reynold Diosana of Mansilingan and Ronelo dela Torre of Sum-ag. They arrived in Bacolod City Monday.
The three shouldered all the expenses in exchange for their repatriation to the Philippines, including their plane tickets.
Meanwhile, Zaldy Candeluna and William Tan of Villamonte are coming soon but they were provided by the recruitment agency with plane tickets on condition that they will sign a quit claim.
These OFWs plan to file a case against the recruitment agency and their employer.
Golez said they have all the right to file a case but he also needs to find out where the flaws are coming from.
On the other hand, there was no single centavo that came from the City Government of Bacolod or from Golez who also helped them in coordinating with the concerned National Government agencies like the Philippine Overseas Contract Workers (POEA), Department of Foreign Affairs, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), among others.
Golez, meanwhile, said he will have a proposed House Bill on the creation of the Department of Migration because there are nine million Filipinos who work abroad.
They deserve to be attended since they kept the economy afloat through thick and thin when the country was hit by the economic slump, he said.
"They have made us survived," Golez added.
He also said that if these OFWs from Bacolod want to go abroad again, there must be a change of skills where they can undergo re-training with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. (CNC)