Repatriated OFWs, dependents from Middle East reach over 4,000 — DMW

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and OWWA Administrator PY Caunan, along with other officials, welcome the repatriates. Stuffed toys are given to children and the elderly.

MANILA -- The number of overseas Filipino workers and their dependents whom the Philippine government has repatriated from the Middle East amid the raging war has reached 4,241.

This, as the government logged the largest number of repatriates in a day with the arrival of the seventh government-chartered flight on Good Friday, April 3.

The aircraft from the UAE-based aviation company Aquiline International landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Friday afternoon, carrying 344 repatriates.

They were welcomed by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, who was also on the flight, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator PY Caunan, and other officials.

Stuffed toys were given to children and the elderly.

Of the 344,228 are OFWs, 68 are next of kin/dependents, while 48 are stranded Filipinos.

Before this, 244 OFWs from Bahrain and their dependents first arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Friday morning aboard a commercial flight Gulf Air Flight 154 from Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

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The travel took three days as the repatriates needed to cross Bahrain to Saudi Arabia by land before boarding the plane en route to Manila, according to the DMW.  

Another 22 repatriates will be returning to the Philippines on Friday night, and 65 more over the weekend, on board commercial flights with tickets all shouldered by the Philippine government.

Cacdac said around 1,500 OFWs and their dependents, mostly from UAE, are awaiting repatriation.

“Kaya nga napakahalaga na bigyan akong direktiba ng ating Pangulo to go to Dubai, check into the condition of our OFWs, and at the same time, touch base with the UAE government,” he said in an ambush interview following his return along with the repatriates.

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The DMW chief added that he was able to meet with the UAE’s Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar.

“In behalf of the President, nagsabi ako ng expression of gratitude and solidarity kay Minister Al Awar sa pangangalaga ng UAE government sa ating mga OFWs,” he stated.

“At the same time, pagkakaroon pa ng patuloy na pagpapasinaya ng pangangalaga at pag-manage ng labor market doon, so nagpasalamat ako,” Cacdac added

Cacdac and Caunan assured that further help will be extended to repatriates, such as travel accommodation, livelihood assistance, and job-matching for those who would like to work overseas anew.

“Magkakaroon pa tayo ng job fair — virtual and face-to-face job fairs — para masigurado natin na magtagpo ‘yung recruitment agencies dito, employers sa abroad at ‘yung naghahanap ng trabahong returnees natin,” Cacdac said.