Marcos orders ₱3B boost for Middle East OFW repatriation, reintegration

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the release of an additional ₱3 billion to reinforce the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) repatriation and reintegration efforts for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the conflict in the Middle East.

According to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, the budget increase will cover the entire operation, “from post-departure assistance, to flights, to reintegration.”

READ: Almost 10,000 workers home from Middle East

“War or not, there are Filipinos in extreme distress that we should bring home,” he said in a statement.

As of June 17, the government has safely brought 10,446 Filipinos home from the Middle East. These included 8,281 OFWs, 1,803 dependents, and 362 stranded citizens.

Recto said Marcos increased the OFW assistance fund as he does not want repatriation to be a mere “airport-to-airport thing.”

“Ang utos nya ay hindi pwedeng paglapag dito, bahala na kayo. Ang gusto ng Pangulo, may hatid sa probinsya sa lubhang nangangailangan, at higit sa lahat mga economic opportunities (The President’s order is that no one will be left to fend for themselves upon arriving. What the President wants is to bring them to their home province especially those in dire need, and above all, economic opportunities),” Recto said.

Upon their arrival, the “standard welcome package” which they may avail of includes financial assistance, psychosocial counseling, medical assessment, reemployment guidance, livelihood, Recto said, citing a DMW briefer.

To hasten the OFWs’ reintegration into the workforce, the DMW has also conducted 15 Bayanihan Para Sa Balikbayang Manggagawa: National Reintegration Network and Job Fairs nationwide to help network them to local and overseas work opportunities, livelihood support, and financial literacy programs, among other services.

READ: Amid Middle East conflict, Mandaue gets ready to assist OFWs

Reintegration for Middle East OFWs

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, through its Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! Program, has also given livelihood aid to 664 recently returning OFWs.

An OFW can receive as much as PHP20,000 as a small business start up assistance.

For returning teachers, the Department of Education has also created a “hiring pathway” that will allow them to teach in public schools, Recto said. (PNA)

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