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Over 136K OFWs sent back to provinces: DOLE
In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the latest batch of 2,667 Filipinos were transported home on Tuesday after they were confirmed negative of the virus. (File Photo: adnalonto/Twitter)
MANILA – Over 136,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic have so far been sent home to their respective provinces, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Wednesday.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the latest batch of 2,667 Filipinos were transported home on Tuesday after they were confirmed negative of the virus.
This brings the number of OFWs provided with various forms of assistance to 136,509, since the DOLE started transporting them in May after undergoing Covid-19 tests and quarantine.
The DOLE, through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and in coordination with other government agencies, has provided aid to returning Filipinos including accommodation, food, transportation, and Covid-19 testing upon their arrival in the country.
It has also extended a one-time PHP10,000 (USD200) cash aid under Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) to OFWs both on-site and those stranded in the country.
Bello has welcomed the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte of additional PHP5 billion for pandemic-affected Filipino workers abroad.
“With the additional funding, more OFWs will benefit from the program and even more Filipinos working overseas will be repatriated and provided with assistance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bello also reported that overseas and local jobs await Filipino workers affected by the pandemic.
Earlier, he said several contractors in Guam intend to hire more skilled Filipinos under the construction and maintenance job categories.
As for local employment, Bello added the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry has also expressed demand for OFW returnees, especially those with a background in the fields of information technology and healthcare.
