MANILA, Feb. 23, 2016— The migrants’ ministry of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines bared plans to grant scholarships to orphaned children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The CBCP Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP – ECMI) said it is looking into the possibility of supporting the education of the children of OFWs who died abroad.
“Our dream is for the ECMI to have the capacity and enough resources to support the education from elementary to college of the orphaned children of our OFWs,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos, ECMI chairman.
The prelate said OFWs leave the country to provide and sustain the education of their children.
“The Church as mother will guide and take the responsibilities. Our goal is to establish a foundation that will offer scholarships,” Santos said.
The bishop had earlier called on the government to use the “blood money” for OFW Jose Zapanta in helping the family he left behind.
Santos said a portion of the Php 23 million supposedly raised to to save Zapanta from execution would be a great help, especially for his two children.
The prelate made the appeal following last month’s execution of Zapanta in Saudi Arabia for killing his Sudanese landlord in 2009.
The victim’s family had demanded Php 48 million blood money in exchange for the OFW’s freedom, but only Php 23 million was raised for the OFW. (CBCP News)
