The chartered flight PR 8683 carrying the remains of 72 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday morning.
Among the remains are 62 Filipinos who succumbed to COVID-19 and 10 bodies of those who died of different causes. Forty of them are from Al Khobar, 17 from Jeddah, and 15 from Riyadh. This is the fourth batch of the remains that has been repatriated by the government from KSA, bringing the total number of repatriated bodies to 264.
The government has guaranteed to provide financial assistance, including cash aid to the families and funeral cremation assistance.
“And then sa mga active OWWA member, bibigyan natin ng COVID assistance iyong mga namatay sa COVID (Active OWWA members who died of COVID will be provided COVID assistance),” Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac assured.
Meanwhile, a ceremony to recognize the contribution of OFWs was also conducted.
“Ang araw na ito ay magpapaalala sa lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno ng hamong mabigyan ng trabaho at oportunidad ang ating mga kababayan dito mismo sa ating bansa (This day will serve to remind all government agencies of the challenge to provide jobs and opportunities to our countrymen in our country),” Department of National Defense (DND) USec. Cesar Yano stated.
“Palakasin natin ang mga programang pangkabuhayan para ang ating mga kababayan na magiging daan para sa katuparan ng kanilang mga pangarap nang hindi na kinakailangan pang mangibang bansa (We should boost our livelihood programs to give way to the fulfilment of their dreams without having to go abroad),” he added.
Following the ceremony at the NAIA, the remains were brought to the crematorium where their loved ones were waiting.
– Report from Rocky Lesigues
