photo: DMW
At least 290 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents from Lebanon boarded a flight that was arranged by the Philippine government as part of the repatriation program for Filipinos in the conflict-torn country in the Middle East.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said 254 of those who boarded Flight MYW9071 from Beirut are OFWs while the rest are their dependents.
They are all expected to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Saturday, Oct. 26 and will be welcomed by officials from the DMW, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other government officials.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the chartered flight from Beirut to Manila was arranged by the DMW and the DFA as part of President Marcos’ instruction to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Lebanon.
"The Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Lebanon work hand-in-hand with the host government to facilitate travel documents for Filipinos to join this flight,” said Cacdac.
The flight boarding the 290 Filipinos made a stopover in Doha, Qatar.
The arrival of the 290 Filipinos on Saturday would bring to 903 the total number of those OFWs repatriated from Lebanon since October last year—the repatriation started after the attack in Israel.
Those repatriated are expected to receive P75,000 each from the DMW AKSYON Fund, another P75,000 from the OWWA, and P20,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Cacdac said personnel from the Department of Health are on standby to provide free medical consultations and psychological first aid to the repatriates.
“The DMW, through its National Reintegration Center for OFWs, will also assist the repatriates in establishing their livelihood ventures or finding alternative employment opportunities, in addition to the free skills training vouchers from TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority),” said Cacdac.
Aside from those repatriated, Cacdac said they are currently providing care for 69 Filipinos residing in shelters in Beirut by ensuring they receive food and other necessities.
“We stand ready to assist those who are willing to be repatriated. We are encouraging OFWs to avail of the voluntary repatriation program and when they arrive home, a whole-of-government approach is ready as directed by the President, with unprecedented financial assistance and other other necessities.
“We stand ready to assist those who are willing to be repatriated. We are encouraging OFWs to avail of the voluntary repatriation program and when they arrive home, a whole-of-government approach is ready as directed by the President, with unprecedented financial assistance and other forms of support,” said Cacdac.