More OFWs from Israel arrive home

THE fourth batch of 60 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from war-torn Israel arrived home Monday.

The group is made up of 32 hotel workers, 28 caregivers and two infants, bringing to 122 the number of repatriated Filipinos since October 18.

Following the arrival of the third batch on October 23, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer in Charge Hans Cacdac said that there were 120 more OFWs who had requested repatriation.

THEY’RE BACK The fourth batch of Filipinos from Israel arrived on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.CONTRIBUTED PHOTO 

“We are very thankful first and foremost for the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, our budgetary resource1s approved by the Congress, and also to the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Cacdac said.

The Migrant Workers Office in Tel Aviv has received 250 more requests for repatriation, and the DMW is processing 130 for the next batch.

Cacdac said the DMW is also working with the DFA to bring home 124 Filipinos from Lebanon.

He said the process of repatriation starts with the request of the OFW, then an assessment to find out if the OFW who has not finished his contract yet has a proper arrangement with its employer.

There were returning OFWs who voluntarily terminated their contract and were allowed to go home by their employer.

All the repatriated Filipinos received P50,000 from the Department of Migrant Workers; P50,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration; and P10,000 cash, P10,000 worth of food subsidy and P15,000 in livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

They also received psychosocial counseling from the Department of Health.