ASSISTANCE. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Deputy Administrator Ryan Vincent Uy (2nd from left) leads the release of livelihood aid to an overseas Filipino worker at the new provincial capitol on Thursday (June 18, 2026). He was joined by (from left) Antique Governor Paolo Everardo Javier, OWWA Western Visayas Director James Mendiola and Board Member Karmilla Rose Dimamay. (Photo courtesy of Province of Antique)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) released a total of PHP300,000 to 17 migrant workers from this province to help them start a livelihood project.
“OWWA released the assistance to distressed OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and those who opted to stay for good in the province,” Antique Provincial Planning and Development Officer Bienvenido Nallos Jr. said in an interview on Friday.
OWWA Deputy Administrator Ryan Vincent Uy, Regional Director James Mendiola and Antique Governor Paolo Javier released the checks to their recipients at the new provincial capitol on Thursday.
Among the recipients was the family of Rona Jean Gervoso, who was tragically killed in Lebanon. Her family received a total of PHP40,000 as additional assistance from the national government agency.
OWWA already gave an initial amount of PHP100,000 to the Gervoso family on June 12.
Sixteen other OFWs received financial assistance amounting to between PHP10,000 and PHP25,000 each under the OWWA program “Balik-Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay!” and Welfare Assistance Program.
“The assistance to the OFWs in Antique is a great help to them since they could use it as their capital for their businesses or to buy medicines,” Nallos said.
Meanwhile, Nallos said that Gervoso will be laid to rest at Sibalom Public Cemetery on June 27.
Her remains were brought to Barangay Esperanza in Sibalom from Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte on June 16. (PNA)