36 mostly distressed OFWs repatriated from Lebanon

Over 30 mostly distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Lebanon were repatriated to the Philippines last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.
 
The repatriates line up to exit the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon. DFA photo
Of the 36 repatriated OFWs, 26 were sheltered at the Philippine Embassy’s Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Resource Center, while four were sheltered at the Caritas Lebanon Migrants Center.

The batch, which left Lebanon on May 27, also included five OFWs who were illegally staying and residing in Lebanon on their own, and one detainee at the General Security.

“The repatriation of these 36 OFWs was made possible through the strong representations made by the Embassy with the General Security for the waiver of immigration penalties and the expeditious resolution of the cases that made possible the early issuance of their exit clearances,” the DFA said in a press statement.

The airfare of 31 OFWs were provided through the DFA's Assistance-to-Nationals Fund, while the other five shouldered the cost of their airline tickets.

Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz bid the repatriates farewell and wished them a safe travel to the Philippines and a happy reunion with their respective families. —KBK, GMA News

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