PH brings home 91 repatriated Filipinos from Saudi

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said it is bringing home 91 Filipinos under the Saudi Amnesty Program.

“This is the first batch of Filipinos in Saudi whose repatriation was facilitated by the Philippine Government,” it said in a statement.

The agency said Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Jesus I. Yabes and Senior Special Assistant Ricardo M. Endaya already distributed tickets to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

DFA said the Interior Ministry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia starting March 29 this year allowed undocumented migrant workers to leave the country without penalties under its amnesty program.

It said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has already discussed with the repatriates the different OWWA programs they can avail upon returning to the Philippines.

DFA said they are expecting thousands to be repatriated in the coming weeks.

“All Filipinos who have irregular status in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are encouraged to avail of the amnesty,” it said, adding that those interested may visit the website of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. KS/JE