MANILA, Philippines- May kabuuang 95 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) galing Saudi Arabia ang pauuwiin sa bansa bilang bahagi ng repatriation program ng pamahalaan, ayon sa Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) nitong Sabado.
Sinabi ni DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac na inaasahang darating sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) mamayang ala-1:15 ng hapon ang 95 OFWs na kinabibilangan ng tatlong bata.
“Our Migrant Workers Office in Riyadh (MWO-Riyadh) arranged for the flight of the distressed OFWs. Prior to leaving Saudi Arabia the returning workers were given US$200 each as initial monetary support drawn from the department’s AKSYON Fund,” pahayag ni Cacdac.
Kinuha ang AKSYON (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan) Fund mula sa General Appropriations Act para sa distressed OFWs sa buong mundo.
Inilaan ang pondo sa gitna ng mga insidente ng labor-related problems kabilang ang pag-abuso ng employers sa OFWs.
Ani Cacdac, pagdating ng OFWs ay aasistihan sila ng OWWA’s (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Repatriation Assistance Division.
Makatatanggap sila ng mga benepisyo kabilang ang financial assistance mula sa DMW at OWWA, medical check-up at referral services, maging psychosocial evaluation at assessment.
“OWWA will provide transit services for the OFWs to their respective homes in Metro Manila or nearby provinces as well as overnight hotel accommodations for those who have flights the next day,” pahayag ni Cadac. RNT/SA
