41 more OFWs arrive home from Syria

Another batch of 41 overseas Filipino workers arrived in Manila from violence-wracked Syria Thursday afternoon, with some still keen on working abroad again. The 41 arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) aboard an Emirates flight past 4 p.m., radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported. Most of the returning OFWs said they are not interested in returning to Syria due to the situation there, the report said, adding that in some cases, the migrant workers had to escape from their employers. Some said that while they will accept an opportunity to work abroad again, they are not keen on being deployed to Syria. The 41 OFWs had complied with the government's mandatory repatriation program after Manila raised the alert level in Syria to "4." Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head Carmelita Dimzon said there are assistance packages to help the OFWs start businesses at home. The dzBB report quoted the OWWA as saying 782 OFWs from Syria have returned to the country so far. On Wednesday, a batch of at least 30 OFWs arrived in Manila. Last January, 76 Filipinos also arrived from Syria in two batches. — LBG, GMA News