DOLE: Govt working to repatriate 36 OFWs from troubled Yemen

Government efforts are underway to repatriate at least 36 overseas Filipino workers and a child from strife-torn Yemen, the Department of Labor and Employment said Friday.

The DOLE, in a news release on its website, said the OFWs had expressed their wish to be repatriated.

“We are closely monitoring the situation in Yemen and are constantly in touch with the members of the Philippine contingency team there. The safety of our OFWs in Yemen is our foremost consideration,” Baldoz said.

According to the DOLE, there are about 1,300 OFWs in Yemen. Most entered the country using visit visas but found employment and acquired working visas.

Labor Attache David Des Dicang, who was dispatched to Yemen, said 25 of the 36 OFWs seeking repatriation are medical staff employed at the Ministry of Defense Hospital in Sana’a.

But Dicang said the hospital has yet to finalize the 25 OFWs’ flight details, though he said they are likely to return to the country in three batches.

He said their airfare will be shouldered by the Defense Ministry Hospital.

Also, he said the Defense Ministry Hospital provided each employee a compensation package "equivalent to a three-month salary and a bonus equivalent to a two-week salary.”

The DOLE identified the 25 OFWs as:

Jacqueline Barrozo
Dulce Corazon Jimenez
Marilou Cayog
Joshua Lozano
Maria Lourdes Barrozo
Jean Tamboong
Zyra Fajardo
Neivin Lusabia
Mary Grace del Rosario
Josephine Rocero
Selly Ruth Edanol
Jeffrey Nulo
Christine Love Deduyo
Diovel Bryan Ganac
Robelia Sinlao
Lovely Aiza Abegonia
Catherine Dimailig
Jopher Juarez
Ria Montemayor
Helen Valenzuela
Mary Joyce Ramirez
Alvin Venturina
Rhea Tabuada Jean Tamboong
Ma. Kristine Lorete
Maria Krisitine Malimban.

Also, it said the 11 other OFWs and the child who wanted to go home have expired visas and need to pay penalties at $1.50 per day for the expired visas and $1.50 per day for the expired work permits.

Dicang said the Department of Foreign Affairs will shoulder the cost of plane fares of these OFWs.

They 11 were identified as:

Jasmin Bedia
Edwin De Jesus
Crystal Jade Dormitorio
Renato Mendiola
Leticia Dechoson
Kryselle Jean Mendiola
Almario Rigor Jr.
Genalyn Suarez
Romel Martinez
Arriane Joy Mendiola de Jesus
Roberto Dawedou
Mark Daniel Suarez, 2.

Some want alert level lowered

Meanwhile, Dicang said some OFWs "have expressed their desire that the current Alert Level 3 be lowered to Alert Level 2 to allow them to go on vacation and be able to return to Yemen.”

Dicang added the Defense Ministry Hospital's monetary compensation for kin of seven OFWs who died in last year's attack is now ready for remittance.

The DOLE identified the seven OFWs who died during the bomb attack as:

Edward Anthony De Guzman
Hezel Puebles
Rosita Santiago
Ruben Valenzuela
Marivic Badenas
Mariane David
Aurora Gormate.

Also, Dicang said he has assigned area coordinators in the Filipino community to help government update the list of Filipinos there.

“The area coordinators continue to be active and regularly communicate with the Philippine contingency team,” Dicang said. — LBG, GMA News

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