DMW creates ‘Task Force Turkey’ to monitor OFWs in Turkey, Syria

 By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY, February 16---The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW-9) established a "Task Force Turkey" so that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Turkey and Syria can be contacted by their family here in the Philippines.

Thus, disclosed Atty. Kinnymar Pañares, regional coordinator of the DMW in his message to the 44 beneficiaries of the 'Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay' program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) during the release of the livelihood assistance held recently.

It can be recalled that last February 6, a very strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck Turkey and Syria resulting in the loss of thousands of lives, injuring thousands of people and destroying large buildings.

Pañares said that there are several OFWs working in those countries, so the DMW encourages families in the Philippines to contact the DMW-One Repatriation Command Center so that they can talk to their family members, and their agencies can provide immediate information and prompt action.

Pañares added that families who are in the country can call the hotline 1348 and write to the email add repat@dmw.gov.ph or personally come to the Turkey Help Desk at the DMW Office, 6F Blas F. Ople Building, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

"We put the contact information outside the door of our office because it is the mandate of all our offices that we create a way to communicate with their families in quake-affected areas," Pañares concluded.

The DMW urged the ZamboSurians to coordinate with their office so that they can be updated on the status of their OFW family members who were hit by the strong earthquake recently. (KBP-Zamboanga del Sur)