(Eagle News) – Over 300 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were granted amnesty in Kuwait arrived in two flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Monday, February 12, 2018.
The 317 OFWs were welcomed by officials from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
OWWA Administrator Atty. Hans Leo J. Cacdac told the OFWs the government would shoulder their travel expenses.
“Mayroon po kayong certificate na pagbibigyan ng OWWA. Yong certificate po na iyan, entitled kayo sa cash assistance na 5,000 pesos at livelihood assistance na 20,000 pesos,” the OWWA administrator added.
He said the overseas workers could claim the said assistance upon reporting to their respective OWWA regional offices.
Consul General Atty. Raul Dado in his message also promised the OFWs support.
“Rest assured na ang aming teams sa OMWA (Office of Migrant Workers Affairs), sa (Department of Foreign Affairs)…will assist you in all your legal problems or situations kasama na yong mga passports…Tungkol sa mga passports or yung mga papeles ninyo na kailangang ayusin,” he said.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala kasi yong buong gobyerno po, buong Pamahalaan po ni President Duterte ay nandito para tulungan kayo…para po bigyan kayo ng panimula,” Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said.
She also told the repatriated OFWs to encourage other OFWs who are still in Kuwait to go to the Philippine embassy and take advantage of the chance given by Kuwait and the Philippine government to go home.
“..Lahat po ng gusto pang umuwi papamasahean po ng DFA sila ng libre. Kaya pwede pa po silang umuwi, pumunta lang sila sa embahada natin sa Kuwait,” she said.
According to DOLE, around 800 OFWs, mostly domestic workers, would arrive in the country between Feb. 11 and Feb. 18.
More OFWs from the Middle Eastern country are expected to arrive in the country after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered their repatriation.
This was after police found the body of Joanna Daniela Demafelis inside a freezer at an abandoned apartment in Kuwait City.