64 OFWs to arrive from Israel this week, DMW expects more Filipinos to return to PH
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is expecting the arrival of 64 overseas Filipino workers from Israel this week as part of the government repatriation amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East country.
DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the first batch is expected to arrive on Monday afternoon, Nov. 6, and is composed of 22 OFWs and one infant.
He said those that will arrive on Monday will be the fifth batch of OFWs and will arrive from Israel via the Etihad Airways flight EY 424 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 (NAIA-3).
Of the OFWs arriving, 19 of them are caregivers while the remaining 3 are hotel workers.
“Additionally, the remains of OFW Mary Grace Prodigo-Cabrera will be brought back by her sister Mary June Prodigo who is part of this latest group of returnees,” said Cacdac.
Mary Grace was one of four Filipino caregivers who died on the first day of the attacks launched by militant Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, 42 more OFWs will arrive and will be the sixth batch of Filipinos repatriated since the conflict started on Oct. 7.
“The return to the country of these two batches this week will bring to a total of 184 the number of OFWs who have come back to the Philippines from Israel,” said Cacdac.
“The DMW expects more returning OFWs as hostilities between Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas show no signs of toning down in the coming weeks,” he added.