NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City
October 20, 2023
In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for a whole-of-government approach to ensure the safety and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in collaboration with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and other government agencies, held a warm reception for the second batch of repatriated OFWs from Israel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
Consisting of 14 caregivers and four (4) hotel workers, the repatriated OFWs received various forms of government assistance. These include financial support amounting to PhP100,000 from the DMW and OWWA, livelihood assistance worth PhP20,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and skills training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) and DSWD are offering psychosocial evaluation and assessment services, among others.
Furthermore, the DOH extended its medical services to 14 out of 18 returnees, who availed for the extension of medical assistance due to serious health problems such as hypertension and colon cancer, including one OFW who underwent a post-bypass surgery.
The OFWs expressed their profound gratitude for the initiative of President Marcos Jr. in jump-starting the series of repatriation programs and initiating a one-stop shop for government assistance programs to address their needs and those of their families.
“Mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong tulong at pag-antabay sa mga kapwa ko OFW sa Israel, sa binigay niyo pong programa. Masaya po kami at nakauwi na po sa aming bansa, mula po pag-alis namin sa Israel at hanggang nakarating sa Pilipinas, hindi po kami pinabayaan ng inyong mga ahensya,” said Elmer Puno, one of the repatriated OFWs from Israel.
Meanwhile, about 92 Filipinos in Gaza have signed up for the government’s repatriation program and are currently seeking refuge near the Rafah crossing, awaiting the opening of the border to enter Egypt for repatriation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reported that negotiations with the Egyptian government are underway, which intends to open the border for humanitarian aid purposes before allowing foreign nationals, including Filipinos, to enter their country.
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