DMW reports repatriating 10,012 OFWs from Middle East

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has repatriated 10,012 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

In the data released yesterday, the DMW said 7,892 OFWs, 1,758 of their dependents and 362 Filipino tourists were transported safely back to the country.

“We have reached the 10,000 mark for repatriated OFWs from the Middle East,” DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a social media post.

According to Cacdac, the highest number of repatriates came from Kuwait, at 2,827. Dubai and Abu Dhabi followed at 2,656 and 1,420, respectively.

He added that 946 were repatriated from Bahrain, 938 from Qatar, 35 from Oman, and 74 from Jeddah and 133 from Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

The DMW shouldered the airfare of 5,371 overseas Filipinos while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration funded the return of the remaining 4,641 Filipino workers from the region.

On Thursday morning, 79 OFWs from Kuwait arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, followed by another batch of 18 people in the evening.

Under the government’s post-repatriation program, the OFWs received financial and welfare assistance, free medical consultation, temporary accommodation and transportation service for those going home straight to their provinces.

The DMW said the returning OFWs are set to benefit from the government’s reintegration program that would help them with job matching, skills upgrading as well as livelihood opportunities.