114K returning OFWs back to their hometowns: OWWA

FILE: Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assist overseas Filipino workers heading home to their respective provinces during a send-off at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange on Monday (May 25, 2020). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – More than 114,000 returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been reunited with their families in their respective provinces since the government provided them transportation assistance since mid-May, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said on Saturday.

Citing latest data, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said as of July 30, a total of 114,291 individuals have returned to their hometowns since May 15.

Of the number, the batch from May 25 to 31 recorded the highest number with 25,002, followed by those transported from June 22 to 28 (10,231); July 6 to 12 (10,163); June 29 to July 5 (9,113); and May 15 to 24, (8,922).

A total of 8,902 OFWs were transported to their respective homelands from June 1 to 7; some 7,279 OFWs from June 8 to 14; and 6,782 OFWs from June 15 to 21.

The rest were sent home on July 13 (1,648); July 14 (1,424); July 15 (1,186); July 16 (1,812); July 17 (1,547); July 18 (1,691); July 19 (1,193); July 20 (1,108); and July 21 (1,064).

More returning OFWs were transported back to their homes on July 22 (1,395); July 23 (1,286); July 24 (2,305); July 25 (2,246); July 26 (2,142); July 27 (3,035); July 28 (2,024); and July 29 (1,223).

The OWWA is part of a 24/7 inter-agency effort that transports and helps OFWs return to their home regions.

The returning Filipino workers from abroad have been transported by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) through the Department of Labor and Employment, OWWA, Department of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and local government units.

The recent batch of returnees was sent home in OWWA-arranged buses and other means of transportation last July 27.

The repatriated OFWs are sent back to their provinces in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao via air, land, and sea transport.