8 more OFW remains in Saudi Arabia ready for repatriation —POLO Jeddah

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Jeddah  in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said Saturday that eight more bodies of the remaining 274 OFWs fatalities in the host country are ready for repatriation.

Labor Attache Nasser Munder told GMA News that travel documents of the eight OFW  remains are ready for the repatriation process.

"Sa amin dito ano ang ready for repatriation ay walo dun sa non-COVID cases, at posibleng magdadagan pa yan dahil naghihintay tayo ng proseso mula sa kanilang mga sponsor na kumuha ng clearance na mailabas na sa morge ang mga patay para dalhin kung saan airport na susundo ang eroplano sa mga bangkay," Munder said.

Also, Munder said that the POLO is processing documents for the repatriation of the bodies of other OFWs, both those who died of natural causes and those who succumbed to COVID-19.

Earlier, the Saudi government set July 4, 2020 as deadline for the Philippines to repatriate the remains of the remaining  274 OFWs who died of natural causes, and of COVID-19.

“By July 4, dapat maiuwi natin ang ating mga minamahal na kababayan,” Bello said during the Laging Handa public briefing on July 1.

Bello said of the 301 deceased OFWs, 152 of them succumbed to COVID-19 while 149 died of “natural causes.”

Of the 152 who died of COVID-19, 23 have already been buried by the Saudi government.

Meanwhile, four of the 149 who died of other causes were already sent back home by their kins.

“So we are now talking of 274... by July 4 ay dapat iuwi natin ‘yan,” Bello said.

In a separate statement, the DOLE said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) gave an assurance to allow more airlines to fly for OFW repatriation.

The CAAP has been strictly regulating flights in the country to help control the spread of the deadly coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19). —Ronaldo Concha/LBG, GMA News