The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with various national government agencies (NGAs), is set to extend additional holistic interventions for the family of Joanna Demafelis,the slain Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Kuwait.

Prior to the visit of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to the Demafelis family last week,  DSWD- Field Office (FO) VI met with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DepEd), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to discuss the provision of a more sustainable response to assist the family.

DSWD-FO VI Director Rebecca P. Geamala confirmed that the social case study of the family which they obtained will be used to determine the appropriate interventions and other social protection programs for the Demafelis family.

Based on the report from FO VI, the family has already undergone psychosocial counseling from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Sara, Iloilo and Joanna’s parents were given free medical consultation from the municipality’s Rural Health Unit.

Furthermore, the family received a total of P500,000 worth of livelihood and educational assistance from President Duterte himself during his visit.

The Demafelis family is also continuously receiving assistance through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Social Pension Program, aside from the burial assistance provided through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the Department.

There is also a recommendation for the family to be included in the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and to receive medical assistance through the AICS program.

Meanwhile, DSWD Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Emmanuel A. Leyco said, “National government agencies must work together to address the grievances and concerns of distressed OFWs and their families at the soonest possible time. There is an immediate need to create concrete solutions to address the labor woes of OFWs so that their families back at home will continue to be intact, and no one will have to go through the tragedy of having a loved one working overseas killed as a result of abuse or murder. Let us strive to give all Filipinos a sustainable means of livelihood to support their families so no one needs to be forced to work abroad to secure a steady means of income,” he said.

OIC Leyco also said that the country’s social welfare mechanisms should be made stronger so that they can also be more responsive and faster when Filipinos are in need of help from the government in all its various levels.

“It is clear that Filipinos are in great need of social welfare support from government because emergencies are always erupting. On behalf of all our clients/partner-beneficiaries, we at the DSWD appeal to all other government agencies to provide all assistance that is within their means to help Filipinos in crisis situations so that they survive and immediately recover from their ordeals,” he said. #