11 construction workers from Pampanga stranded in QC, wish to go home to Bacolod

Eleven construction workers have made the waiting shed outside the National Housing Authority office in Quezon City their temporary home as they try to find a way to fly to Bacolod.

The men, all working as contractual employees, left their workplace in Pampanga last night with no money.

“Na-stranded kami sa Pampanga. Tatlong buwan. Tapos gusto na naming umuwi, hindi kami papauwiin ng engineer namin. Yung medical namin, hinold nila. Kasi baka magpasukan daw, mahirapan silang maghanap ng tao,” Francis Gargolez told GMA News on Friday.

They were able to make their way to Quezon City after a police officer helped them get medical clearance to travel and gave them cash.

The 11 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) are optimistic that they may be able to fly home soon after an employee of the National Housing Authority (NHA) chanced upon them on Friday and listed down their names and other details for the Hatid Tulong Initiative.

Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Joseph “Joy” Encabo told GMA News in a phone interview that almost 12,000 LSIs have already manifested their desire to avail of assistance through the Hatid Tulong Initiative.

LSIs can fill out forms at the Office of the President, Presidential Management Staff (PMS), NHA, and local government units, as well as the Departments of Social Welfare and Development,  Labor and Employment, Transportation, and Tourism.

“As we receive a request, we consolidate. At the same time, hinihingi namin ang impormasyon ng isang tao. Of course, ‘yung pangalan, ‘yung edad, kondisyon nila at saka yung probinsiya kung saan sila uuwi. At ‘yon din po ay tina-transmit namin sa mga ahensiya na nagbibigay ng suporta sa paghatid sa kanila,” Encabo said.

LSIs will also receive a P2,000 to P3,000 assistance from the DSWD.

GMA News has already forwarded the name and contact number of the 11 LSIs’ point person to the PMS. -MDM, GMA News