2,283 OFWs, children safely return home from Egypt, Syria, and Jeddah
2,283 OFWs, children safely return home from Egypt, Syria, and Jeddah Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said that the efforts of the Philippine government to ensure that overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are safe and away from harm brought about by the conflict and tension in Egypt and Syria brought home 1,265 OFWs and their children from the said war-torn countries. “The number represents OFWs who were repatriated from the said countries for this year alone,” the labor chief said. Baldoz also announced that 15 individuals, 9 adults and 7 children, formed the first batch of repatriates from Egypt who safely arrived home last 30 August onboard Gulf Airways Flight No. GF154. “Nine OFWs will also be arriving in Manila on the evening of 05 September onboard the same flight,” she added. The announcement was made after Baldoz received a communication from Renato P.O. Villa of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Syria reported that 1,250 Filipinos were repatriated this year, following the successful repatriation of 2,756 OFWs in 2012 and 548 in 2011. Moreover, the report stated that there are 181 wards staying at the Embassy shelter as of 27 August 2013. On the other hand, as a result of the ongoing correction of residency status in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Labor Attache to Jeddah Atty. Alejandro Padaen reported that there are already 1,018 Filipinos who were able to return to the country, as of 26 August 2013. “Of this number, 530 were males, 233 were females, and 255 were minors. This represents 18 percent of the 5,785 Filipinos who requested repatriation assistance from the Consulate,” Padaen stated in his report, adding that 258 individuals already have exit visas and will be flying back to the country after 26 August. He added that the remaining 4,509 Filipinos are still being assisted at the Jawazat for the issuance of exit visas. Baldoz, aware that majority of the repatriates are apprehensive on returning home, said that there are local jobs available for them. “In the case of Egypt-based OFWs, there is an ongoing coordination with licensed recruitment agencies for their possible redeployment to other countries,” Baldoz said. The repatriates are also assured of a package of livelihood assistance which they can avail from the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO). She also assured the OFWs returning home of the readiness of the DOLE and its attached agencies for their arrival and subsequent reintegration in the country. Earlier on, the labor and employment chief has already given marching orders to the NRCO, OWWA, and POLO for a massive on-site implementation of the DOLE’s Balik-Pinay, Balik-Hanapbuhay Project, one of the major strategies of the government’s national reintegration program for OFWs, emphasizing that it is best to hand over the livelihood starter kits to these OFWs while they were waiting for their exit visas and plane tickets for home. “The program applies to both OWWA and non-OWWA members,” she stressed. She also reassured the OFWs still in Egypt, Syria, and KSA and their families in the country that the Philippine government, under its one-country-team approach, is prepared and equipped to take care of them until they are safe. “Should any untoward situation occurs that will you think will jeopardize your health or your safety, the first thing you should do is to coordinate with the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate and with the Filipino community leaders. Take care of yourselves and each other,” the labor and employment chief instructed. End/rhev
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