Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 22) — Christmas will be merry for over 1,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in Hong Kong.
Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Cebu Pacific are working with the Foreign Affairs and Labor Departments to bring thousands of OFWs back to the country after they were defrauded by their travel agency, PEYA Travel.
The two airlines offered the government a discounted fare. They will also dispatch bigger aircrafts to accommodate the stranded workers to ensure they will be home before Christmas.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Sarah Arriola said Cebu Pacific has also offered 50 complimentary return tickets for the affected OFWs.
DFA and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will split the cost of their roundtrip air travel, Arriola said. The affected OFWs have to issue the tickets from PEYA Travel, the Filipino-owned travel agency that allegedly defrauded the workers.
Meanwhile, Cayetano said he has instructed the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong to file criminal charges against the travel agency.
"We also will pursue a civil suit against PEYA Travel to compensate our kababayans for the damages they suffered," he said.
[SOURCE]
Post a Comment