36k OFWs repatriated amid COVID-19 crisis –DFA

The Philippine government has repatriated more than 36,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) amid the COVID-19 crisis gripping many nations, an official said Monday.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Arriola said 36,731 OFWs have been repatriated as of June 7, Sunday, most of them sea-based workers employed in cruise ships.

At the Laging Handa briefing, Arriola said 22,198 of the repatriated OFWs are sea-based workers and 14,533 are land-based.

Some 30,000 to 35,000 more sea-based workers need to be repatriated, she said.

The official said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) does not distinguish between documented and undocumented workers in its repatriation operations.

"We do not distinguish kung ano 'yung kanilang migration status. So papauwiin po talaga din sila kung lumapit po sila sa mga embahada natin at konsulado. Hindi po tayo namimili, pareho po 'yung treatment natin sa documented and undocumented," she said.

She encouraged OFWs to get in touch with the Philippine embassy in their host countries to arrange their repatriation.

The DFA has recorded 5,392 COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad as of Sunday, most of them in the Middle East.

Of this number, 2,791 patients are undergoing treatment, 2,231 have recovered, and 370 have died. --KBK, GMA News