THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were repatriated from the Middle East amid growing unrest in the region.
The DMW said 45 OFWs along with two children arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 from Lebanon on Thursday via Kuwait Airways 417.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, Social Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, and other government officials welcomed the repatriates.
On Friday, OWWA said 79 OFWs, along with six children, have arrived from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The DMW said that to date, a total of 525 OFWs with 30 dependents have been repatriated from the Middle East since the start of the government’s voluntary repatriation program last year.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it was ready to extend assistance to the repatriates.
“It is important that our social workers talk to the repatriated OFWs so that we can determine the appropriate assistance,” Dumlao said.
Dumlao added that aid was not limited to financial assistance but might include livelihood support.
“Our social workers need to interview the repatriated overseas Filipino workers because AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) and Akap (Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita) were just among the many interventions,” Dumlao said.
“Based on the existing guidelines of the SLP (Sustainable Livelihood Program), they may receive P15,000 if they enter into the microenterprise development track,” Dumlao said.
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