A total of 526 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Davao Region have been repatriated from the Middle East following the recent regional conflict, with most coming from Kuwait and other Gulf countries, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office 11 said.
OWWA 11 Regional Director Mohammad Victor said on Monday that the majority of the returning workers came from Kuwait, followed by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
“Ang majority po nito ay galing sa Kuwait, Bahrain, and KSA, Saudi Arabia po. Qatar, opo,” Victor said during Kapehan sa Dabaw.
He added that OWWA has yet to determine which provinces in the Davao Region the repatriated workers came from because many of the addresses submitted by returnees were incomplete.
Victor assured that returning OFWs receive government assistance immediately upon arrival.
“Bukod po doon sa ticket, alam po ninyo yung ticket po napakamahal po during that time wala hong commercial flight. So, it could take around mga siguro mga P100,000 plus bawat passenger,” he said.
Victor added that aside from airfare, each returning worker receives P10,000 in financial assistance from OWWA, along with additional aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
He said those who were unable to receive their assistance upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are provided with the remaining benefits once they arrive at Davao International Airport.
Victor also highlighted OWWA’s scholarship programs for the children of active OFWs.
He reported that this year, 47 scholars graduated under the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), 128 under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP), while eight children of sea-based OFWs also graduated.
He reminded aspiring applicants that scholarship applications are now conducted online.
“Ang application po ngayon ng OWWA scholarship ay through online na po. Meron po kaming portal: scholarship. owwa.gov.ph… by this last part ng July or first week ng August, bubuksan na po namin yung portal para doon sa mga bagong aplikante po na mga anak ng active na OFW po,” Victor said.
Victor emphasized that only one child per OFW family may avail of the scholarship program.
On government funds for repatriation, Victor said the national government still has sufficient resources after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved additional funding to address the effects of the Middle East crisis.
He clarified that while the approved government funding also covers undocumented OFWs, OWWA provides services only to documented workers, while undocumented returnees are assisted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
