DMW: 123 Filipinos back from UAE, Israel amid Middle east conflict

Over 100 Filipinos from the United Arab Emirates and Israel were safely repatriated back to the Philippines on April 18 amid the Middle East conflict, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Sunday.

In separate statements, the DMW said the 123 overseas Filipinos arrived in two batches on Saturday.

The agency said 101 Filipinos arrived in Manila from the UAE after availing of the government’s voluntary repatriation program.

Of this figure, 80 were overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while 21 were dependents.

Personnel from the DMW, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) welcomed them upon their return.

They were given psychosocial sessions by the Department of Health (DOH), and were also offered business and financial seminars conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). 

The DMW added that the OFWs underwent profiling, skills assessment, and job matching to help them find new jobs.

Before this, a batch of 22 OFWs from Israel arrived in Manila, also on Saturday, via a commercial flight. This batch included 18 caregivers and four hotel workers.

In a separate statement, the DMW said the OFWs crossed from Israel to Egypt, where they boarded a commercial flight arranged by the OWWA.

In an earlier statement, the Philippine Embassy in Israel said it facilitated the return of the 22 Filipinos – which included two minors – to the Philippines.

The DMW and OWWA assisted the group of Filipinos in traversing the Taba Border Crossing on April 16.

The OFWs will be aided by the government in their reintegration through trainings, the government-to-government (G2G) overseas employment program, livelihood assistance and medical support. — JMA, GMA News