Marcos orders P3B more for displaced OFWs from Middle East
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the release of an additional P3 billion for the government's repatriation and reintegration program for overseas Filipino workers displaced by the conflict in the Middle East.
In a statement on Sunday, June 21, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the additional funding would support the full repatriation process, including pre-departure assistance, transportation and reintegration services upon arrival in the Philippines.
"War or not, there are Filipinos in extreme distress that we should bring home," Recto said.
Recto said some humanitarian flights also served as medical evacuation missions for sick Filipinos.
"If you will recall, these flights became medevacs for sick Filipinos as well. The DMW, through the brilliant leadership of Secretary Hans Cacdac, brought medical personnel on board to care for them," Recto said.
Support beyond arrival
Recto said Marcos approved the additional funding to ensure that assistance would not end when repatriated workers arrive at the airport.
"His instruction was that it should not be that once they land here, they are left to fend for themselves. What the president wants is assistance for those who need to return to the provinces and, above all, economic opportunities," Recto said in Filipino.
Citing the Department of Migrant Workers, Recto said returning OFWs may avail themselves of a standard welcome package that includes financial assistance, psychosocial counseling, medical assessment, reemployment guidance and livelihood support.
"By tapping the skills of the OFWs honed by their work abroad, society benefits as well. This is a kind of technology transfer that helps the economy. This is a brain gain we need," he said.
Reintegration, job fairs
To help returning workers reenter the labor force, the DMW has conducted 15 Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa National Reintegration Network and Job Fairs across the country.
Recto said the one-stop-shop events connect OFWs with local and overseas employment opportunities, livelihood programs and financial literacy services.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, through its Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program, has also provided livelihood assistance to 664 recently repatriated OFWs.
Under the program, beneficiaries may receive up to P20,000 in startup capital for small businesses.
As of June 17, a total of 10,446 Filipinos had been brought home safely from the Middle East through humanitarian flights organized by the DMW.
The figure includes 8,281 OFWs, 1,803 dependents and 362 stranded Filipinos.
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