By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) welcomed home 342 Filipinos repatriated from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as the eighth Philippine government chartered flight landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Friday afternoon.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in an interview that the latest batch consisted of 203 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), along with their dependents and relatives.
He said the Philippine government continues to scale up assistance for returning OFWs as he outlined expanded financial aid, reintegration programs, and employment support for repatriates amid tensions in the Middle East.
“’Yung mga nakaraang repatriation natin, kung maalala ninyo, from Israel, ay na-place na natin dito sa ating G2G Government to Government arrangement, hotel workers for Croatia. So, that’s just one example of the continuing efforts we’re doing,” Cacdac said.
“The President, kahapon nag-usap kami, he continues to emphasize na bigyan ng karagdagang serbisyo, lalo na sa aspeto ng pangkabuhayan, ‘yung mga nanunumbalik, kaya tayo, ready tayo, together with DOLE sa job matching, and together with the other government agencies such as DTI, sa livelihood matching,” he added.
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, together with officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Office of the President, Presidential Management Staff, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), also welcomed the repatriates.
The DMW said the operation was carried out through coordinated efforts with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Embassy in the UAE, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos in the Middle East.
Upon arrival, government agencies provided assistance and prepared additional support services for the returnees.
Other agencies remain on standby to extend financial aid, medical assistance, temporary shelter, reintegration support, and help with immigration and customs processing requirements.
Cacdac assured the government’s continued efforts to bring home Filipinos affected by the Middle East conflict and seeking to be repatriated.
“Andito tayo kung ilan pa ‘yung mga Pilipino na gustong bumalik sa Pilipinas. Meron tayong ninth chartered flight na napipinto sa Lunes and meron tayong around 2,000 plus, 2,200 or so, still awaiting to be repatriated. And this is a live count. It all depends on how things turn out. We’re hoping, of course, that the ceasefire will hold,” he said.
Cacdac confirmed funding allocations for continued operations, adding that the Department of Budget and Management has ordered the release of nearly P1 billion, with around P800 million for the DMW.
He said authorities are also pushing for supplemental funding if needed.
Cacdac, meanwhile, noted a significant decline in deployment to the Middle East, estimating it at “around 50 to 60 percent,” though he said that sea-based workers are largely unaffected.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Cacdac said the government has already repatriated around 60 Filipinos amid recent security developments.
“We’ve been in touch with our labor attaché and yes, there have indeed been gunfire, attacks there for these last 48 hours or so, 36 hours. And we know that the attacks have subsided, but still, what’s unusual here is that the attacks are in Central Beirut, usually they are only in Southern Beirut. But having said that, no Filipino has been hurt so far,” Cacdac said.
