Filipino migrants displaced by a powerful earthquake in Italy now have the chance to go back to the Philippines for free, courtesy of the Philippine government.

Philippine Labor Attache Manuel Roldan said the government will give free plane tickets to all Filipinos displaced by the massive earthquake in L'Aquila, Abruzzo that killed at least 289 people and left almost 40,000 homeless last Monday. More than a hundred Filipinos were affected by the quake last week.

Roldan said Filipino workers who have young children will be prioritized. The program is being spearheaded by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

He said that apart from immediate relief, the Philippine Embassy is also planning to help displaced Filipinos find jobs and shelter in other parts of Italy.

Meanwhile, Romulo Salvador, representative of Migrants for Asia said they plan to raise donations to help affected Filipinos in L’Aquila. Also, a blood donation will be held on April 25th as part of their program to help overseas Filipino workers.

Members of the Filipino Women Council (FWC) also volunteered to give counseling and psychosocial examinations to Filipinos in shelters. FWC president Donna Rose Dela Cruz said the group was able to get donations from members, which would be used to buy the immediate needs of fellow Filipinos in Abruzzo. With ANC’s Take One