A PARTYLIST group sees the need for the National Government to put up repatriation fund to assist overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) in distress while working abroad.
Lawyer Anel Diaz, Pamilya Ko Partylist first nominee, said with the repatriation fund in place, OFWs in distress can be immediately repatriated for his or her protection.
At present, OFWs in distress will have to seek refuge and stay at the Philippine Embassy in the country they are working. It takes sometime before he or she can be sent home.
Diaz said that if given the mandate, they will push for the legislation of a law requiring the national government to establish a repatriation fund for the benefit of OFWs in distress.
OFWs in distress may include those who lost their jobs and those who encounter problems in their employment.
"We are studying a law that will allow us to have a repatriation fund. That fund we will use in case we have compatriots who need to return to the Philippines immediately," Dias said.
He added the repatriation fund can be immediately tapped by the concerned government agency like the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to assist OFWs in distress.
The Pamilya Ko Partylist champions the rights and welfare of evolving Filipino family setups which they call "Lovables."
They include Live-in parents, OFW parents, Victims of domestic abuse, Adoptive families, Blended families, LGBTQIA+ parents, Elderly and Extended families, and Single o solo parents.
Meanwhile, the Pamilya Ko Party-list has made a notable appearance in the latest "Tugon ng Masa" survey by OCTA Research, conducted from March 18 to 25, 2025.
Ranked among the top 30 party-list groups in the nationwide poll, Pamilya Ko's performance highlights growing support for its advocacy of inclusive and diverse family structures.
The survey, based on interviews with 1,200 registered voters across the country and a margin of error of 3 percent, reflects shifting public sentiment on family-related issues.
"We are grateful for the support and trust of the Filipino people," Diaz said.
"This survey result affirms that more Filipinos believe all types of families deserve recognition, protection, and equal rights," he added.
Diaz and Miguel Kallos, the second nominee of Pamilya Ko Partylist and their campaign team visited Zamboanga City on Monday, April 14, for a campaign sortie.
They traveled to Tawi-Tawi on Tuesday, April 15, also for a campaign sortie. (SunStar Zamboanga)