By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s mandate of ensuring the safety and welfare of Filipinos working abroad, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) welcomed 49 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and two dependents from Jeddah and Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) upon their safe return to the Philippines on Tuesday.
The repatriates are distressed OFWs staying in the Bahay Kalinga shelters in Jeddah and Al Khobar, who experienced unfortunate situations on their overseas employment and have requested assistance to return home with their families.
They arrived back in Manila in two batches, with 17 coming from Al Khobar aboard Qatar Airways flight QR932 and 32 from Jeddah aboard Saudi Airlines Flight SV870.
Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan led the teams of DMW and her agency in providing immediate financial assistance to the repatriates, as well as temporary accommodation and transportation services back to their respective provinces.
The OFWs also received medical check-up from Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Medical Division staff, and were referred to concerned government agencies for assistance for their productive and sustainable reintegration.
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