As the amnesty program for migrant workers in Saudi Arabia continues, more overseas Filipinos are being repatriated.
Today, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to welcome more than 150 overseas Filipinos (OFs) from Jeddah, composed of 59 families.
Out of the total OFs, more than 100 are children who are coming home to the Philippines for the first time. This batch also includes a mother with eight children.
As in previous arrivals of repatriates, a team of DSWD social workers led by Social Welfare Attache Office Unit Head, Perlita Panganiban will meet and assist this latest batch of OFs.
“So far, this is the biggest group of OF families which DSWD will be welcoming composed mostly of mother and children. The Department has ready meals for the OFs and will provide P5,000 to each family as financial assistance which they can use to buy basic goods for their children. Our social workers will also assist and assess the families for other possible assistance,” Panganiban said.
DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo said, “President Duterte has instructed the different government agencies to extend the appropriate services to the OFs. It is time to give back to these Filipinos who we call as the new heroes, serving the country through their work abroad. It is now government’s role to give back our care and compassionate service for these needy OFs.”
Aside from DSWD, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will also extend assistance to the repatriates. ###
