DFA: 68 undocumented Filipino workers repatriated from Kuwait

Undocumented Filipino workers in Kuwait, who availed of the Philippine Embassy’s Assisted Repatriation Program for distressed Filipinos abroad, arrived in the Philippines on April 11. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait has repatriated 68 undocumented Filipino workers this month, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

In a statement, DFA said the Filipino workers, who arrived in the Philippines on April 11, were assisted under the Embassy Assisted Repatriation Program (EARP) for distressed Filipinos abroad.

According to DFA, EARP is a joint program of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, and the Illegal Residency Monitoring and Immigration Departments of Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior.

The said program “aims to repatriate overseas Filipinos who were charged with absconding and expired visa cases at the Immigration Department, without having to be detained.”

DFA added the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait also assisted the medical repatriation of Ruwina Mercadal, who was aided and monitored by the embassy’s Assistance to Nationals Unit-Medical Response Team while she was being treated in the hospital. 

DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait has already repatriated a total of 88 Filipino workers in February and March this year. /kga