Gov’t spent P23.05B for repatriation of 1.7M OFWs during COVID-19 pandemic — OWWA’s Ignacio

The Philippine government has spent a total of P23.05 billion for the repatriation of around 1.7 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) reported Friday.

"We have brought home a total, not only those whom we have sent back home to their provinces, but all in all, 1.7 million OFWs were assisted and repatriated this pandemic," OWWA Deputy Administrator For Administration and Fund Management Arnell Ignacio said at the Laging Handa briefing.

"The budget in 2020 was P5.68 billion then in 2021, the budget was P17 billion, for a total of P23.05 billion. That's the total of what the government has been spending," Ignacio added, saying the budget came from the emergency repatriation fund allocated for the pandemic.

Ignacio reported that there are currently about 1,704 OFWs undergoing quarantine in 92 hotels.

"Pababa na nang pababa ang mga numero na ito. Hindi kagaya dati kasi, aabot sila ng 14 days diyan. Ngayon, dramatically bumababa na 'yung ating gastusin," he said.

(These numbers have continuously decreased. Unlike before, OFWs spent 14 days in quarantine. Our expenses are currently dramatically decreasing.)

OFWs in Ukraine

Ignacio also reported that 652 OFWs in Ukraine have so far been repatriated amid an invasion by Russia.

These included seafarers, who were given P10,000 cash assistance.

A total of P5.25 billion worth of cash assistance was distributed to about 554,648 OFWs under the DOLE AKAP program. — RSJ, GMA News