205 Pinoys repatriated from Kuwait, Abu Dhabi

A total of 205 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families have returned to the Philippines amid the conflict in the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Monday.

In a social media post, the DMW said 62 OFWs and 43 dependents arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Sunday aboard Etihad Airways flight EY440.

Meanwhile, 97 OFWs and three of their relatives arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 on Monday.

All of them were welcomed by representatives of DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Health and medical staff of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

The repatriated Filipinos received financial assistance, as well as temporary shelter and transportation arrangements to their respective homes.

Led by DMW in partnership with 25 other agencies, reintegration programs under the National Reintegration Network (NRN) are also available for the returnees.

The NRN provides services such as job matching, skills training, and livelihood assistance to support the smooth reintegration of returning OFWs and help them start anew.

According to a "24 Oras" report on Sunday, 8,000 Filipinos have been repatriated since the Middle East conflict escalated on February 28.

However, based on an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration survey, when asked if they are still willing to work abroad—not limited to the Middle East—more than 70% said yes.
This suggests that many still view overseas employment as offering better opportunities.

DMW had said it is assessing the skills of returning OFWs from the Middle East to match them with job orders in other countries. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA News