ALMOST 500 PINOYS RETURN HOME FROM ABU DHABI, KUWAIT

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said  that around 500 Filipinos from war-torn Middle East return to the country on Friday.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) welcomed home 342 Filipinos repatriated from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as the eighth Philippine government chartered flight landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Friday afternoon.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that the latest batch consisted of 203 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and 119 dependents and relatives.

Cacdac said that Philippine government continues to scale up assistance for returning OFWs as he outlined expanded financial aid, reintegration programs, and employment support for repatriates amid tensions in the Middle East.

He said the President continues to emphasize providing additional services, especially in terms of livelihood for those returning.

“So we are ready, together with the Department of Labor and Employment  (DOLE) for job matching, and together with the other government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), for livelihood matching,” he added.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, together with officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Office of the President, Presidential Management Staff, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), also welcomed the repatriates.

The DMW said the operation was carried out through the coordinated efforts with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Embassy in the UAE, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos in the Middle East.

Also on Friday, Gulf Air Flight GF 154 that had 134 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait arrived at 11:30 a.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

Officials from the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) led by OWWA Administrator PY Caunan welcomed the workers and gave them assistance from the national government.