Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday gave PHP500,000 assistance to the family of Filipino caregiver Paul Castelvi, who was among the casualties in attacks by the militant Hamas group in Israel on Oct. 7.

Romualdez, accompanied by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Jr. and Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, extended his sympathies to the bereaved kin.

“No amount of assistance can truly compensate for your loss, but we hope this small gesture will help assuage your grief and alleviate some of the financial burdens you are facing during this difficult time,” Romualdez told Castelvi’s family.

Two separate teams from the Office of the Speaker and Tingog Party-list also delivered the same amount of cash aid to the families of caregivers Loreta Alacre of Negros Occidental and Angelyn Aguirre of Pangasinan, who were also killed during the attack.

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Marañon III and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante went with the team to give cash aid to Alacre’s family, while Pangasinan Rep. Ramon Guico, Jr. helped deliver the financial assistance to the family of Aguirre.

“We stand in solidarity with our fellow Filipinos who, in search of a brighter future, found themselves in the midst of a conflict not of their own making. We honor the memory of our brave OFWs who paid the ultimate price,” Romualdez said.

The Speaker said the government is resolute in its support for its citizens, stressing the importance of unity and support within the global Filipino community particularly during times of crisis.

He reassured the families of the slain OFWs that their bodies would be repatriated as soon as possible, citing the vow of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the government would do everything in its power to bring them back home.

President Marcos earlier said the government is just awaiting the opening of the humanitarian corridor in the Rafah border to safely repatriate over 100 Filipinos in Gaza willing to come back home as well as the remains of the slain OFWs.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration also said it is exploring alternative ways of repatriating the bodies of the three Filipinos.

Mayor Escalante said the city government has not received information yet on the date of the repatriation of Alacre’s remains.

“We have already completed the documents requested by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. We hope in the coming days we can receive the latest news,” he told reporters.

Escalante said they will also provide financial assistance as well as food packages to the bereaved family.

The city government also paved the road going to the Alacre residence as the area was previously hard to access for vehicles, he added.

Alacre’s younger sister, Nelia, also an overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Kuwait who came home Tuesday night, also said there is no definite date yet for the coming home of her sister’s body.

“We will hold a wake for her then,” she added.

Earlier, the Alacre family also received a PHP40,000 financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (PNA)

Photo credit: House Press and Public Affairs Bureau