4,600 OFWs in Qatar seek repatriation

Around 4,600 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) based in Qatar have signed up for repatriation to the Philippines as their livelihoods were affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan Timbayan on Monday said the embassy had already repatriated 912 Filipinos from Qatar in the last three months, but more wanted to go home. He said the embassy had arranged chartered flights to repatriate the overseas Filipino workers last July 12, and another one on July 22. Timbayan said 15 Filipinos have tested positive for coronavirus in Qatar.—Julie M. Aurelio