By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine government is intensifying its repatriation operations in the Middle East, with more flights set to bring home around 2,500 “repatriation-ready” overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the coming days, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Monday.
This, as Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac welcomed the arrival of 342 OFWs and their dependents on board another chartered flight arranged by the government.
Cacdac said in a media interview, “So, this is the 9th chartered flight. We have 342 on board. So, this brings us to a total of 5,400 OFWs and their dependents and counting.”
He said additional arrivals in the coming days include 150 from Bahrain and more than 300 from Kuwait, where airspace restrictions had earlier slowed down operations, “We have an entire plane load from Kuwait, kasi magbubukas na yung Kuwait Airport.”
The Migrant Workers chief said the remains of 16 OFWs will be included in the same flight on Tuesday.
Cacdac said the OFWs died of natural causes, but the transport of their remains had been delayed due to logistical constraints during the temporary airspace closure.
Despite the challenges, the DMW assured that efforts are ongoing to bring home both distressed workers and deceased Filipinos, “Rest assured, we will be on top of the situation.”
He said the government will scale up repatriation through commercial flights once the situation in the Middle East stabilizes, “If the ceasefire holds, the situation will improve. And actually, we will now begin resorting to commercial flights.”
The Migrant Workers chief likewise assured that financial assistance is being extended to affected workers, including on-site aid and support upon arrival in the Philippines.
Job loss
OFWs Jun Celestial and Alice Pinero were among those who arrived on board the 9th chartered flight, citing loss of job and growing fear since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
Pinero said that, despite the United Arab Emirates government’s “strong defense system,” regularly hearing explosions also triggered fear and uncertainty, which drove her to ask the Philippine government to include her in the repatriation.
She recounted her experience, “Kahit sinasabi pong in-intercept, nakakatakot pa rin po… hindi mo maiwasan matakot. Maganda yung Dubai pero yung ganitong sitwasyon, nakakatakot.”
Pinero said now that she is back after two years working abroad, she has decided to work in the Philippines and not to return abroad despite employment opportunities there.
Pinero, who worked as an administration staff member at a school in Dubai, said: “May trabaho doon pero may trabaho din naman dito sa Pilipinas, maghahanap na lang ako dito ng trabaho at samahan ko na lang pamilya ko.”
For his part, Celestial from Binangonan, Rizal said employment opportunities across the Gulf States significantly declined, forcing many, including him, to return home.
“Sa trabaho ko, puwede sa Qatar, Saudi, Oman… eh lahat ng kalapit, wala talaga,” he said.
Celestial expressed gratitude to the government for bringing them home, “Maraming maraming salamat sa gobyerno sa lahat ng tulong.” (PNA)
