By Brian Campued
At least 317 Filipinos affected by the ongoing tensions in the Middle East are now back in the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported.
The repatriated Filipinos arrived from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Thursday afternoon through a third chartered flight arranged by the government.
A total of 153 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their 114 dependents, along with 50 stranded Filipino passengers, were welcomed by the Philippine government through DMW Sec. Hans Leo Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator PY Caunan.
The repatriation was made possible through coordination of the DMW, OWWA, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, as well as the Philippine Consulate General and Migrant Workers Office in Dubai.
According to the DMW, a total of 2,099 OFWs and their dependents have returned home under the government’s repatriation efforts since March 5, pursuant to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize the safety and welfare of OFWs affected by the crisis.
Over the weekend, the first chartered flight served 442 Filipinos, while the second carried 343 repatriates.
Aside from chartered flights, the repatriation is conducted through commercial flights or land border crossings, based on the current situation and status of the airspace in the host country where Filipinos come from.
“Lahat ng mga repatriated Filipinos ay nakatanggap ng immediate assistance at suporta mula sa whole-of-government team, kabilang ang DMW at OWWA na nag hatid ng financial at welfare assistance; medical assistance mula sa Department of Health (DOH); psychosocial support mula sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),” the DMW said.
“Nakaantabay din ang DMW para sa paghahatid ng kinakailangang reintegration support ng mga nakauwing OFW,” it added.
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