99 OFWs repatriated from Riyadh – OWWA

Updated at 2:23 P.M

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 99 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been repatriated from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following missile attacks claimed by Yemeni Houthi rebels, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) announced on Tuesday.

In its latest repatriation efforts, 50 OFWs arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Tuesday morning via a Qatar Airways flight, and another 15 OFWs arrived in the same terminal on Tuesday afternoon aboard a Gulf Air Flight as OWWA continued its efforts to assist workers affected by flight cancellations in Riyadh.

“An additional 50 overseas Filipino workers from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were repatriated by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), on Tuesday, October 20,” OWWA said in a social media post.

“Another 15 Overseas Filipino Workers from the Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were repatriated by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW),” OWWA announced in a separate statement.

The DMW first repatriated 34 OFWs on October 19.

READ: 3 Filipinos remain in ICU after Riyadh airport attack

The first 50 repatriates were transported from Riyadh to an airport in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia, while the next 15 travelled from Riyadh to Dammam in Saudi Arabia.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, OWWA provides transportation, temporary accommodation, and domestic flight assistance.

“In times of crisis, our OFWs need to feel that they have someone to turn to and someone who will act immediately for their safety. That’s why we found an alternative route and our Welfare Officers accompanied them on the trip from Riyadh,” OWWA Administrator PY Caunan said in a statement.

At least 50 more OFWs are scheduled to arrive in the Philippines at 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday in another Qatar Airways flight.

Another 249 OFWs are being processed for repatriation in the coming days in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Migrant Workers Office in Saudi Arabia.

The next repatriation schedules are as follows:

• October 21: 50 OFWs travelling to Al Qassim to board a Qatar Airways flight QR928
• October 23: 49 OFWs travelling to Dammam to board a Gulf Air flight GF154
• October 25: 110 OFWs split into two groups travelling to Dammam and Al Qassim to board Gulf Air and Qatar Airways flights GF154 and QR928, respectively
• October 26: 40 OFWs from Al Qassim to board Qatar Airways flight QR928

/mcm