THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East will continue, adding that government assistance remains available despite a decline in the number of those seeking to return home.
“We still have ongoing repatriation, but it’s unlike the periods of April and May. The number is declining, but we still continue with our repatriation efforts,” DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay said on Monday.
She said that as of July, 10,580 migrant workers, overseas Filipinos and their dependents have been repatriated from the Middle East amid the war between the United States/Israel and Iran.
The latest batch consisted of 50 repatriates from Kuwait who arrived in the Philippines this week.
Bay said the DMW continues to closely monitor developments in the Middle East while coordinating with Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council member states to respond to repatriation requests and other welfare concerns of Filipino workers.
Meanwhile, the MWOs continuously coordinate with Filipinos in the region to ensure that those who need assistance can immediately access government support.
Bay reminded OFWs in conflict-affected areas to prioritize their safety by staying in secure locations and complying with the rules and advisories issued by authorities in their host countries.
She also urged migrant workers to rely only on verified information from Philippine government offices abroad.
