Photo courtesy Department of Migrant Workers.
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Philippine government continues to implement its whole-of-government approach in helping Filipinos affected by the escalating conflict in Lebanon come back home safely to the country as well as in providing financial and other forms of assistance to them for establishing alternative jobs or livelihoods.
This was the reassurance made by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac as he welcomed the 76 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with two dependents from Lebanon who arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City in the evening of October 20, 2024 via Emirates EK 334.
The latest arrival brings the total number of OFWs who have been repatriated by the Philippine government from Lebanon to 636 and the number of dependents with them to 32.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier directed all concerned government agencies to use all resources and assets to ensure the safe and timely repatriation of Filipinos affected by the ongoing conflict.
Cacdac assured that the Philippine government, through a whole-of-government approach, would continue to assist and repatriate Filipinos in Lebanon.
Each of the OFW returnees who arrived on Oct. 20 received immediate financial assistance worth P75,000 from the DMW Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund, P75,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and P20,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). They also received an additional P20,000 each from the Office of Congressman Jun Acidre, the DMW said.
The Department of Health (DOH), meanwhile, provided free medical consultations and psychological first aid to the repatriates upon their arrival at the airport.
All of them will also be assisted in establishing their livelihood ventures or finding alternative employment opportunities, Cacdac said. (PIA DMD)
