PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday welcomed back the fourth batch of Filipinos repatriated from the Middle East.
The chartered Philippine Airlines flight from Riyadh landed at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at past 6 a.m. carrying 317 overseas Filipino workers and 26 dependents from different parts of the region — Saudi Arabia (109), Kuwait (99), Bahrain (79) and Qatar (56).
Their return was facilitated by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
They were accompanied by OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, who led on-ground operations in Riyadh to assist Filipinos arriving from land crossings.
Marcos mingled with the repatriates and their families, and oversaw the distribution of assistance and services, including financial assistance, medical support and psycho-social counseling.
He also led the send-off for repatriates with domestic flights to the Visayas and Mindanao on the same day.
Over the weekend, the president vowed the unhampered provision of government assistance to Filipinos affected by the hostilities in the Middle East.
According to the DMW, the government of Saudi Arabia helped in the transit of Filipinos from neighboring countries, noting that the kingdom served as a key hub for evacuation efforts.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said “it was a land-crossing effort” as air spaces in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar are either closed of restricted due to the war.
Cacdac further disclosed that they are expecting 1,200 more returnees by batches in the coming days.
