Nearly 450K Covid-displaced OFWs back in home provinces: DOLE

MANILA – Close to 450,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic have been repatriated to the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Sunday.

Data from the DOLE showed that as of 12:01 Sunday, a total of 447,076 Filipino workers abroad have returned to their home regions since May 2020.

To recall, the government started repatriating OFWs affected by the pandemic in May 2020.

The figures show that so far, the highest number of repatriated Filipinos was recorded from June 29-July 26, 2020 at 41,233; followed by May 15-31, 2020 with 33,924 and June 1-28, 2020 at 33,194.

The recorded numbers in other months, from July 27 to Feb. 2021 do not exceed 18,000 repatriates.

For Feb. 20, 2021, only 883 were sent to the provinces — the least number of Filipinos that have been assisted back to their homes.

For this year, data from Jan. 4 to Feb. 20 show the biggest number of OFWs that have reunited with their families was recorded from Jan. 25-31 at 9,953, followed by Jan. 11-17 with 9,376.

The returning workers were transported back to their home regions via air, sea and land transportations.