341 OFWs from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain return home

National

A TOTAL of 341 Filipinos from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, March 15, as part of the government’s ongoing repatriation efforts for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by unrest in parts of the Middle East.

The chartered flight of Philippine Airlines carrying 328 OFWs and 13 dependents landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 at around 7 a.m., a report by Philstar stated.

Upon arrival, the returning Filipinos were immediately assisted by government agencies, receiving hotel accommodation, medical checkups, meals, transportation assistance to their home provinces, and financial aid to help them recover after their sudden displacement abroad.

According to Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the government continues to prioritize the safe return of OFWs who are located in high-risk areas, those suffering from illnesses, and workers facing urgent humanitarian concerns.

Many of the returning Filipinos came from Al Khobar, Dammam, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, as well as from Bahrain. They reportedly traveled by land to cross the border before boarding the government-arranged flight bound for Manila.

The latest batch follows the arrival of 35 Filipinos last Saturday, including 26 OFWs and nine family members, who landed at NAIA Terminal 3 via a flight operated by Qatar Airways from the Gulf region.

Government data show that from March 5 to 15, authorities have assisted a total of 1,656 Filipinos affected by the ongoing Middle East crisis. The number includes 1,350 overseas Filipino workers and 306 dependents who were either stranded or forced to return home due to the situation.

The repatriation operations are being led by the DMW in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which provides welfare support and reintegration assistance to returning migrant workers.(Zsarrhied Samantha A. Tanjay, CTU-TC BAEL-ELSD Intern)