EMBASSY AND POLO DELIVER CONSULAR ASSISTANCE TO OFWs IN NORTHERN
ISRAEL NEAR LEBANON/SYRIAN BORDER 

 8 November 2007—Charge d’ Affairs a.i. and Consul General Gilberto Asuque (left photo, far left) leads Embassy and Philippine Overseas Labor Office officials in extending consular assistance to OFWs working in Kibutz She Nechem in Kryat Shmona, an area in the Upper Galilee north of Israel near the Lebanon-Syria border. Vice Consul Thaddeus Hamoy (right photo, slightly hidden), Labor Attache Merriam Cuasay and Welfare Officer Zenobia Caro join the Embassy/POLO team in explaining to the OFWs the various assistance for OFWs.  The team also reestablished cellphone links with the OFWs to update the Embassy’s contingency plan. There are 8 OFWs working as caregivers in Kibutz She Nechem led by Mr. Ariel V. Lacanilao. The visit was organized with the assistance of Ms. Gila Bopp (2^nd L, left photo) of the recruitment agency Li-Ezer who brought the caregivers to Israel under a POLO-monitored placement system. The OFWs informed the team that they are pleased with their working conditions and relations with their employers as well as the support by Mr. Bopp.  (Embassy photo)

/Gary