Manila: Seventy-four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel are set to return to the country this week as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assured continuous repatriation efforts despite the lowering of the alert level following a ceasefire in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan mentioned in a Bagong Pilipinas interview that although the Department of Foreign Affairs has downgraded the alert level in Israel to Alert Level 2, the government's monitoring and assistance remain available for OFWs who wish to come home.
Caunan stated that 21 OFWs are expected to arrive from Israel tomorrow, with another 25 scheduled for Saturday, and an additional 28 anticipated soon. She also noted the recent arrival of eight OFWs from Iran. Despite the ceasefire and reduced alert level, the government continues to monitor the Middle East situation, ensuring support for Filipinos abroad.
Caunan highlighted that approximately 373 of the nearly 30,000 Filipinos working in Israel have expressed their intent to return home since June 23. However, only 26 have been repatriated so far, as some prefer to stay due to various reasons. The government remains prepared to assist those who eventually decide to come home.
OWWA is also receiving inquiries from OFWs in other Middle Eastern countries, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait, about potential repatriation and support programs. The repatriation program continues to address the needs of distressed workers, with daily assistance from OWWA and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Beyond repatriation, over 440 OFWs in Israel have availed themselves of assistance, including psychosocial counselling, accommodation, food packs, and financial aid, through collaborative efforts by the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, the Migrant Workers Office, Labor Attach©s, and OWWA Welfare Officers.
Returning OFWs also benefit from medical support, with the Department of Health covering expenses for certain cases and providing free treatment for serious illnesses. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) offers vouchers for skills development, while the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Migrant Workers assist in job-matching to help them reintegrate and find new employment opportunities.
