64 OFWs from Israel home this week

FILE: OFW returnees from Israel receive immediate assistance from various government agencies, including comprehensive reintegration assistance from the DMW, NRCO, and OWWA; psychosocial evaluation and medical assistance from the DOH and DSWD; skills training vouchers from TESDA, and other forms of support from the DMW-OWWA Regional Offices of their respective provinces. (Photo: Department of Migrant Workers/Facebook)

The fifth batch of repatriates, composed of 22 OFWs and an infant, arrived Monday via Etihad Airways flight EY 424 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

The cremated remains of Mary Grace Prodigo-Cabrera, a native of Iloilo province, was accompanied by her sister, Mary June Prodigo, who also works as an OFW in Israel.

The next group of 42 will be home by Tuesday.

“Nineteen of the returning OFWs [on Monday] are caregivers while the remaining 3 are hotel workers,” Cacdac said in a statement on Monday.

Cabrera, the daughter of her 95-year-old ward, and the daughter’s former husband were abducted by the terrorist Hamas group on Oct. 7.

The OFW’s body was found on Oct. 19.

Her urn will be laid to rest in their hometown in Maasin, Iloilo.

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Arnell Ignacio, and other senior officials of concerned government agencies welcomed the repatriates.

To date, 141 OFWs and five infants have returned from Israel.

Fluss thanked the OFWs for staying with their employers despite the dangerous situation.

He said Filipinos and Israelis have the same values, making it easier for OFWs to blend in and adapt.

“When I talk about the connection between Israel and the Philippines and why Filipinos want to go to Israel as caregivers and hotel workers, and why usually they do not want to come back, is because they have become a part of our family,” Fluss said.

“We have very similar culture and values, family eating, when we have guests we must have food on the table, so I think you are very much at home when you are in Israel and that’s the reason why Israel is a very popular destination for Filipinos,” he added.

Cacdac assured the returning OFWs of a whole-of-government approach in providing them assistance.

He said they were mandated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to look after their welfare and ensure their safety.

“Nung lumabas pa lang ang balita nung a-syete ng Oktubre, may direct instruction na si Pangulo na manmanan ang inyong sitwasyon at siguruhin na kayo’y nasa mabuting kalagayan. Kaya nagtayo na tayo ng 24/7 help desk at hanggang ngayon ay pinapa-alalahanan pa rin tayo ng Pangulo kung kumusta na ba ang pangangalaga namin sa inyo, kaya sana mula nung nasa Tel Aviv kayo hanggang nandito, kayo ay nabigyan namin ng sapat na pangangalaga (When the news came out on the seventh of October, the President had a direct instruction to monitor your situation and make sure that you are in good condition so we have set up a 24/7 help desk and until now, we are still being reminded by the President to take good care of you so I hope that from the time you were in Tel Aviv to the time you are here, we have given you adequate care),” Cacdac said.

The repatriated OFWs will receive PHP50,000 financial assistance from DMW, PHP50,000 from OWWA, PHP20,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), livelihood assistance from the National Reintegration Council and OWWA, medical and psycho-social checkup from the DSWD and the Department of Health, and training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.