50 more OFWs, family dependents from Riyadh arrive in PH

A total of 50 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their family dependents from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday night, October 20, as part of the government’s ongoing repatriation efforts.

According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the group consisted of 45 stranded OFWs and five family dependents affected by flight cancellations and delays in Riyadh.

The repatriates arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 aboard Qatar Airways flight QR928, where personnel from the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Medical Team welcomed them and provided necessary assistance.

The agencies extended airport, medical, and financial assistance to the returning Filipinos. Transportation assistance, including domestic land and air travel, was also expected to help them return to their respective provinces.

With the latest arrival, the total number of OFWs and family dependents repatriated by the DMW and OWWA from October 19 to 20 reached 149.

Meanwhile, DMW Assistant Secretary Venecio V. Legaspi assured returning workers that the government has reintegration programs for those who decide to remain permanently in the Philippines, including employment assistance and other support services.

“The Department of Migrant Workers, together with OWWA and various government agencies through the National Reintegration Network (NRN), has programs for returning OFWs, including those who decide to stay permanently in the Philippines. Do not worry; you can find employment here and receive assistance from the government,” Legaspi said.

The repatriation was carried out under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. through the “Saving Lives” component of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Assistance Program.

The government utilized the AKSYON Fund and Emergency Repatriation Fund to support the operation, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office in Riyadh.