DOLE to locate overseas worker ma of 7-year-old girl who survived ‘Pablo’ mudslide

MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said they have started efforts to locate the mother of Imee Sayson, the seven-year-old girl from Compostela Valley who survived after being buried in mud for 24 hours.

The girl’s mother, according to a neighbor, is working abroad.

“We’re now tracing the mother’s whereabouts. Merong tatlong bansa na merong OFW na ganung pangalan, sa Kuwait, Taiwan at UAE (United Arab Emirates) [There are three countries where there is an OFW with that name — Kuwait, Taiwan and UAE]. The one in UAE is not from Compostela, so we already ruled that out. We’re still checking Kuwait and Taiwan,” she said.

Baldoz added that President Aquino instructed her, along with the Department of Foreign Affairs, to communicate with the OFW, once identified.

“We will explain to her what happened and convince her to come home. The government is ready to help her with livelihood assistance.  Hopefully we can convince her to come home,” Baldoz said.