Remains of 35 OFWs arrive from Saudi Arabia

MANILA, Philippines — The remains of 35 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including 30 who died from COVID-19, were flown home from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

“We join the families of our fallen OFWs in grieving their loss. Our OFWs sacrificed their lives while in pursuit of better future for their families,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

The bodies arrived at 10 a.m. at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on a chartered Philippine Airlines flight.

The COVID-19 cases were cremated immediately while the rest were flown to their home provinces.

Bello said survivors of OFWs who succumbed to COVID-19 would receive P120,000 in burial assistance, livelihood assistance, and P30,000 educational support for their children.

—Tina G. Santos