CALUMPIT, Bulacan – It's been a little over two months ago since overseas Filipino worker Jason Aguilar lost his employment and was deported back to the Philippines due to being mistaken for road rage suspect, Jason Aguilar Ivler.
Jason Aguilar, who hails from this town, had only been working as a pipe-fitter in Doha, Qatar for almost a week when he was nabbed by local authorities. On the other hand, Jason Ivler, during that time, was still at large for allegedly shooting and killing the son of Malacañang Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. in Quezon City.
Sometime in January, former DoLE Undersecretary Susan Ople, daughter of the late Labor czar and Senator Blas Ople, accompanied Aguilar and sought help from DoLE-3, represented by director Ernesto C. Bihis, on what livelihood assistance programs may be made available to him.
“We are more than willing to help Mr. Aguilar,” Bihis said, adding that the Provincial Government of Bulacan and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Calumpit have likewise extended support to him.
Yesterday, DoLE-3 in coordination with the local government released P50,000, under the department’s Kabuhayan Program, to Aguilar and his immediate family.
The said assistance will be used for a "bigasan" which Aguilar and his family personally requested when they met with Bihis earlier.
DoLE-3 Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Leopoldo De Jesus, personally handed over the check to Municipal Vice Mayor Arnel Lim-Ranola, who pitched in behalf for Mayor James De Jesus.
Lim-Ranola expressed his gratitude for the quick response of the DoLE in addressing the concerns of Aguilar. Likewise, he said that the LGU of Calumpit will continue to assist him in making his livelihood a sustainable one.
The LGU of Calumpit is an Accredited Co Partner of DoLE-3-Bulacan Provincial Field Office in the delivery and implementation of projects and programs for residents clientele. The LGU through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will facilitate the purchase of the variety of rice which Aguilar and his family will sell/retail to their intended customers in their area.  
As of presstime, Aguilar -- through the initiative of the provincial government -- is already employed at the Bulacan capitol as a full-time security guard.