A total of 325 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have returned to the Philippines from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported.
In a statement, the DFA said the group of repatriates, which included 88 pregnant distressed overseas Filipinos, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on June 17.
This was the third flight from UAE this year especially chartered by the DFA through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) using the DFA’s Assistance To National Fund.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said that the recent arrival was a "clear testament" of the DFA's commitment to bring OFWs home.
She renewed the agency's vow to continue providing assistance to all OFWs in need.
The DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, will continue to accept applications for future repatriations from the UAE. The previous chartered flight from the UAE last May 31, 2021, brought home 396 overseas Filipinos.
The repatriates were subjected to stringent facility-based quarantine provided by the Philippine government, in conformity with the health protocols set by the Department of Health (DOH) - Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and shall be subjected to testing for coronavirus (COVID-19).
According to the DFA, the Philippine government continues to uphold the One-Country Team Approach (OCTA) by continuously collaborating and cooperating with the DOH, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure the safety and welfare of OFWs.
In his Independence Day message last week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. assured Filipinos abroad of the DFA's commitment to advance their welfare. He said the agency has always been ready to assist Filipinos who are in need.
"I cannot convey enough of my deep respect for you. Our esteem will always go hand in hand with our commitment to extend fast, responsive, and quality service through our embassies, missions, and consulates abroad," he said.
"No matter where you are if you are at grave risk, you can count on the DFA to leave no one behind. That is our blood compact with overseas Filipinos. If we have to suture our cell phones to our ears and our fingers to the keyboard," he added.
Last month, President Duterte approved the additional P5-billion allocation for the repatriation of OFWs, half of the amount requested by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the additional allocation was intended to pay for facilities used to quarantine OFWs amid the pandemic.
Currently, returning overseas Filipinos are required to undergo strict quarantine in a facility for 10 days and another four days of quarantine at home or their destination.