MANILA, Philippines — Eighty-seven distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), along with three children, returned to the Philippines from Saudi Arabia this Saturday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.
According to the department, their Migrant Workers Office in Riyadh arranged the flight for the returnees.
The DMW also said that before leaving Saudi Arabia, each OFW was given US$200 as initial monetary support. The amount was drawn from the department’s AKSYON (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan) fund.
DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) officials received the returning OFWs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Upon arrival, they were assisted by the OWWA’s Repatriation Assistance Division, DMW said.
“They will be receiving a support package of benefits that includes financial assistance from the DMW and OWWA, medical check-up and referral services, as well as psychosocial evaluation and assessment,” DMW said in a press release.
The department also said that OWWA will provide returnees with transport services to their homes in Metro Manila or nearby provinces, or overnight hotel accommodations for those who have flights the next day.
The DMW previously reported that 95 OFWs were about to go home; however, in a subsequent message to reporters, the department said some were not able to make it due to delays in the administrative processing of papers.
They will soon follow once their documents have been settled, DMW assured.
RELATED STORIES
DMW confirms death of OFW in Saudi; probe starts
Saudi Arabia vows to settle unpaid wages of over 10,000 displaced OFWs