Over 300 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were repatriated from Saudi Arabia as part of the government's program to attend to the needs of distressed Pinoy migrant workers.
Department of Migrant Worker (DMW) Sec. Susan "Toots" Ople said the 344 distressed OFWs arrived on Saturday evening from Riyadh after the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) was able to arrange their travel documents back to the Philippines.
“The DMW, through OWWA, will be extending the needed assistance to all our repatriated kababayan, including medical help and transportation,” Ople said.
Ople said among the repatriated workers are four OFWs with medical conditions and five suffering from mental illness.
"These OFWs have been provided with medical assistance. The OWWA is also helping one OFW from Iloilo who came home to attend to a tragedy within the family," said Ople.
Other OFWs that need quarantine, according to Ople, will be accommodated at a hotel in Quezon City and will be tested for COVID-19.
Once cleared, she said the workers will be provided transportation assistance by OWWA so they can be reunited with their families.