The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has welcomed 52 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who safely returned to the Philippines aboard a Qatar Airways flight.
According to OWWA, the repatriated workers arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 aboard flight QR928.
OWWA said the returning OFWs received assistance upon arrival, including food, ground and air transportation, and temporary shelter for those who needed it. They were also provided with financial assistance.
The repatriation was carried out in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO).
Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and OWWA reported providing a total of 7,129 assistance services to 5,291 OFWs in Saudi Arabia.
These included 5,233 financial assistance services, 670 food assistance services, 273 shelter services, 247 land transportation services, and 12 medical assistance services.
The agencies also facilitated the return of 694 individuals, composed of 681 OFWs and 13 dependents, through 16 repatriation flights.
The initiatives are part of the government's efforts under the Saving Lives pillar of the UPLIFT Assistance Program, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos overseas.
