DSWD eyes giving food packs to stranded workers in Boracay

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is eyeing to provide relief to stranded workers in Boracay Island affected by the enhance community quarantine (ECQ).

In a Facebook message, Rhea Penaflor, DSWD assistant secretary for specialized programs, said they have yet to identify the workers.

At least 155 stranded workers submitted their names to the DSWD-Western Visayas for assistance. Many of them wish to go home.

“We need to determine if some of them already received assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment. If not, we could consider giving them food packs,” she said.

Around 34 in the list are students from Nueva Ecija having their on-the-job training.

The workers were stranded because they thought the ECQ would only last until April 15. The Aklan Provincial Government, however, decided to extend it until April 30 thus operation of all public transportation including airplanes and ships is still temporarily suspended.