The first group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East who took advantage of the government’s voluntary repatriation are now on their way home, after a flight delay.
In a photo shared on social media this morning, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac was with the Filipino repatriates aboard a plane.
“We are boarded for home. Thank you all for your prayers and support,” he captioned the picture.
The group is on Qatar Airways Flight QR 934 and are expected to touch down by evening, according to an update provided by the DMW.
Earlier, the migrant workers secretary shared that their flight from the Doha Hamad International Airport was delayed with the closure of the Qatari airspace, as a precautionary measure against Iranian missile strikes.
The group Cacdac is escorting consists of the 26 OFWs who safely crossed the King Hussein Bridge from Israel to Jordan on Sunday, three from Jordan, one from Palestine, and another from Qatar.
In addition, while the group remained in the terminal after deplaning, they chanced upon two other stranded Filipinos also bound for the Philippines, as reported by RH 52 Edniel Parrosa. The DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will be shouldering their repatriation expenses as well.
These Filipinos are only the first batch of the over 200 OFWs from Israel and Iran who have expressed their desire to return home.
Speaking with DZRH last week, Cacdac explained that around 70–80 percent of Filipinos in the region work in caregiving roles, which has led many of them to form not only professional but also personal and emotional bonds with their employers.
As a result, when these employers flee or seek refuge amid the conflict, their Filipino caregivers often choose to stay and accompany them. This, the secretary said, may explain why only about 200 have so far requested repatriation.
A team of officials from various government agencies, led by the DMW and OWWA, will welcome the OFWs, who will receive ₱150,000 in financial aid. They will also be provided with either temporary shelter or transportation to their respective provinces.
