22 OFWs, infant arrive in PH from Israel

The fifth batch of Filipino repatriates from Israel arrived in the Philippines on Monday, according to the  Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

The group, composed of 22 overseas Filipino workers and an infant, safely landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at past 3 p.m. via Etihad Airways flight EY 424.

Of the 22, a total of 19 were employed as caregivers while three were hotel workers.

Among the repatriates is Mary June Prodigo, sister of slain Filipino Grace Prodigo Cabrera, who carried her sister’s ashes as she returned from the war-torn country.

DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans  Cacdac, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator  (OWWA) Arnell Ignacio welcomed the returnees.

They were offered a repatriation assistance package of P50,000 each from the OWWA to address the needs of their families and help them transition smoothly back to their daily lives.

The DMW earlier said a sixth batch of repatriates, composed of 42 OFWs returning to the Philippines from the Israel-Hamas conflict is expected on Tuesday, November 7.

Their arrival will bring the total number of returning OFWs to 184.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News