At least 526 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Davao Region have been repatriated from various Middle Eastern countries following the recent regional tensions, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office 11.
Speaking during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, OWWA 11 Regional Director Mohammad Victor said most 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.
He said OWWA is still consolidating data on the home provinces of the repatriated workers because several returnees submitted incomplete address information.
Victor assured that the government immediately extends assistance to OFWs upon their return, including transportation and financial aid.
“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.
Aside from covering airfare, OWWA grants each repatriated worker P10,000 in financial assistance. Additional support is also provided through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
He added that OFWs who were unable to claim their benefits upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) can receive the remaining assistance when they reach Davao International Airport.
Victor also encouraged qualified families to take advantage of OWWA’s scholarship programs for the children of active OFWs.
This year, OWWA recorded 47 graduates under the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), 128 graduates under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP), and eight graduates who are children of sea-based OFWs.
He said scholarship applications are now processed online through OWWA’s scholarship portal, which is expected to reopen for new applicants by the end of July or during the first week of August.
“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 noted that only one child per OFW family may avail of the scholarship benefit.
Meanwhile, he said the national government has enough funds to sustain repatriation efforts after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved additional allocations in response to the Middle East crisis.
He clarified that while the government funding covers both documented and undocumented OFWs, OWWA’s services are limited to documented workers, while undocumented returnees are assisted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
