10 November 2016 - Nine (9) Filipino families displaced by the latest earthquake in central Italy received cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Social Welfare Attache in Rome.

The cash assistance was released to each displaced family on November 08 and 09 by Ms. Priscilla Razon, Social Welfare Attache of the Philippine Embassy in Rome. Nine other Filipino families have been identified by the Philippine Embassy to receive cash assistance in the coming days.

The cash assistance is intended to help the quake victims normalize their lives after the disaster. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs also provided all 10 displaced Filipino families evacuated from Norcia free board and lodging for a maximum of 14 days and transportation to their place of resettlement after they have completed their stay at the Casa per Ferie Rogate in Morupo, Rome.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) of the Philippine Embassy is also extending support and assistance in finding alternative jobs for the displaced workers in cooperation with the Italian authorities in the city of Perugia and religious organizations in Rome.

All recipients of the cash assistance conveyed their gratitude to the Philippine government for the help they received.

As of November 09, only two workers from Norcia, together with their families, remained at the temporary shelter provided by the Philippine government in Rome. The rest of the workers have decided either to transfer to Perugia to closely coordinate with their employer for their eventual return to employment, or to return to work.  END