DMW welcomes OFWs from Israel, Lebanon

REPATRIATED. The ninth batch of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel, composed of 42 individuals and five children, safely arrive at the Ninoy Aquino nternational Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Thursday (Nov. 23, 2023). The Department of Migrant Workers said a group of OFW returnees from Lebanon also arrived in the country on Wednesday evening (Nov. 22, 2023). (Photo: Department of Migrant Workers/Facebook)

MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) welcomed another batch of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel and Lebanon as they arrived in the country.

DMW Officer in Charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, together with Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, welcomed the latest batch of OFWs returning from Israel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Thursday afternoon.

Cacdac said this is the ninth batch of OFW repatriates from Israel, composed of 42 OFWs, of which 30 are hotel workers and 12 are caregivers. The group also included five children.

Upon arrival, the OFWs received immediate assistance and other forms of support.

“Aside from the financial assistance from the DMW, each OFW returnee also received PHP50,000 financial assistance from OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration), PHP20,000 livelihood assistance from the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), and PHP5,000 from TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority),” a post from the DMW Facebook page read.

The Department of Health extended medical assistance to the OFW returnees upon their arrival at the NAIA.

The repatriates will also receive comprehensive reintegration assistance and job facilitation services for other employment opportunities, whether here or in another country.

As of Nov. 23, a total of 299 OFWs from Israel have safely returned home through the government’s repatriation efforts.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening, the fourth batch of eight OFWs from Lebanon also arrived in the country on board Qatar Airways flight QR928 in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

While waiting for their flight back to the country, the group was assisted by the Migrant Workers Office in Beirut headed by Labor Attache Alejandro Padaen and Assistant Labor Attache Firma Bantilan.

To date, a total of 27 OFWs have safely returned to the country from Lebanon.

The first batch of four OFWs arrived on Oct. 28, followed by the second batch of six OFWs on Nov. 3, and the third batch of nine OFWs on Nov. 9.