ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) here has released P790,000 to 79 Ilonggos repatriated from Libya under its Repatriation Assistance Program.

OWWA Regional Director Samuel Madrid said the agency is prepared to extend assistance to up to 610 Ilonggo returnees.

Meantime, Madrid has already sent staff to the OWWA satellite office in Bacolod City to make it convenient for repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) based in Negros Occidental instead of having to go to the Iloilo regional office to get their share of the financial assistance.

Of the 79 OFWs given aid, 51 are from Panay and 48 from Iloilo.

The OFWs will also be given business counseling in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Such counseling is expected to help them should they decide to engage in business while waiting for possible job opportunities.

Madrid said that they are expecting the arrival of more Ilonggo OFWs even as he looked forward to seeing all of the 610 Ilonggos back home.

At present, over 12,000 OFWs – including Ilonggos, have been relocated outside of Libya and are now awaiting repatriation.

The OWWA regional office here “continues to operate 27/7” to accommodate returning OFWs, according to Madrid.

Those who are in Negros Occidental have been advised to proceed to the OWWA Satellite Office located at the 2nd floor of the old City Hall building at Araneta, corner Luzuriaga streets in Bacolod City.