NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City
October 18, 2023
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in collaboration with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and other government agencies, welcomed home repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Israel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
This is the first batch of repatriated OFWs composed of 16 individuals, including a one-month-old infant since the Israel-Hamas war started. They are set to receive various forms of government assistance, including PhP 100,000 each in financial aid from the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund, sourced from the DMW and OWWA. In addition, they will receive PhP 20,000 financial assistance from the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) and OWWA Reintegration Programs. Other forms of assistance include psychosocial group counseling, transportation and accommodation, jobs training, and referral service, among others.
Most of the repatriated OFWs were caregivers in Israel who chose to return home following a series of bloody attacks by Hamas forces that infiltrated Israeli territory, leading to a war between Israel and Hamas.
The OFWs expressed their utmost gratitude to the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for initiating repatriation programs and for providing various forms of government assistance to them and their families.
“Sobra sobra po, hindi po kami kinalimutan lalung-lalo na po ng Presidente. Na kahit hindi pa kailangan, sinabi na niya po kaagad. Simula po nang pag-alis namin sa trabaho, pagpunta namin sa DFA sa Tel Aviv hanggang sa makauwi kami dito, hindi po kami pinabayaan,” said Angeli Ronidel, one of the repatriated OFW from Israel.
DMW Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac ensured that the repatriated workers were able to depart either after completing their contracts or with the possibility of returning to Israel when the situation improves. He also assured them that their insurance benefits and other claims from their employers will be facilitated by the legal team from OWWA and DMW.
It is expected that more batches of OFW repatriates will arrive in the coming days.
* * *