Cainta Mayor Keith Nieto said Wednesday he is seeking the institutionalization of long-term support for children of deceased overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the municipality.

Nieto’s move follows news reports that a Cainta resident, an OFW woman with a 10-year-old son, was one of the casualties in a recent fire in Hong Kong. The woman was reportedly scheduled to fly home to celebrate Christmas with her son, who is currently under the care of her sister.

“I want to institutionalize this whole death center thing,” Nieto told DAILY TRIBUNE. “What I noticed was, when this situation happens, the government, at the onset, they just give something. They forget about the whole thing. I wanted something that’s sustained so that the future of the child can be guaranteed.”

The mayor said institutionalizing the support through a Sangguniang Bayan resolution would ensure that the child has “something that you can hold on to and bank on” even after immediate community support subsides.

Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac notified Nieto that one of the Hong Kong fire casualties was a Cainta resident. The mayor said, “The boy’s mother was supposed to see him on Christmas. She was actually scheduled to fly back to our country.” But unfortunately, it happened.”

In response, Nieto said he has directed the local social welfare office to strengthen the provision of a welfare fund. The 10-year-old boy will receive P5,000 monthly until he reaches 18 years old.

“That’s why I came up with the idea of coming up with a welfare fund, a pension thing that would provide him at least P5,000 monthly from this time on until the time that he turns 18,” Nieto said.

The local government has also secured a free college scholarship for the child. Nieto said he contacted ICCT, a local college, intending to purchase an educational plan. The president of ICCT then “volunteered to give it for free” for any four-year course the child may wish to pursue years from now.

Furthermore, Nieto secured job opportunities for the child’s guardian to ensure the family’s financial stability.

“I had to secure his guardian, or at least also be compensated,” he said. “I also employed her up to the age of 18, just to make sure that everything will be taken care of by the government.”