DMW: 187 OFWs from Middle East back in PH, 245 more arriving on Friday

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday reported the safe return of 187 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Lebanon and Kuwait amid the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.

In a post on its Facebook page, the DMW said 10 OFWs from Lebanon arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Wednesday night via Turkish Air.

One of the repatriated Filipinos was a domestic worker who decided to come home after working in Lebanon for 11 months amid the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

“Iniwan ako ng amo ko na pumunta sa France. Dahil nag-iisa ako, takot na takot ako, kaya tumawag ako sa embassy at agad naman akong pinapunta sa Migrant Workers Office. Nagpaalam ako sa amo ko at pumayag naman sila kaagad,” the OFW said, as quoted by the DMW.

(My employer went to France. Since I was left alone, I was so afraid so I called the embassy and I was instructed to go to the Migrant Workers Office. I sought permission from my employer and they let me go.)

On Thursday morning, April 2, another 177 OFWs and their 14 relatives arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 from Kuwait via Gulf Air.

A nanny who worked in Kuwait for 11 years was among those who decided to return to the Philippines.

“Ang hirap po ng pinagdaanan namin doon – magulo. Buti na lang at natulungan kami na makauwi,” the nanny said, as quoted by the DMW.

(We went through a hard time there – it was so chaotic. It was a good thing that they helped us in coming home.)

The repatriated OFWs were extended financial and medical assistance and given a temporary place to stay upon their arrival.

The government’s efforts to repatriate distressed OFWs amid the Middle East are still ongoing as instructed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

On Friday, April 3, a new batch of 245 OFWs from Bahrain are expected to arrive in Manila under the government’s repatriation program.

The DMW said the OFWs crossed from Bahrain to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, where the DMW secured commercial flight tickets for their voyage back to the Philippines. — JMA, GMA News