2nd batch of OFWs from Lebanon arrives in Philippines

2nd batch of OFWs from Lebanon arrives in Philippines

THE Philippine government’s efforts to bring OFWs home from countries affected by conflict or war continue.

Just like the six OFWs who returned from Lebanon on Friday.

Fear and trauma drove Jennylyn, Lorena, and Clarita to decide to return to the Philippines from Lebanon.

They were welcomed by officials, including Kabayan Party-list Representative Ron Salo, Department of Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Arnel Ignacio, and other representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and Department of Health (DOH).

Upon their arrival at NAIA Terminal 3 on November 3, the Filipinos underwent a medical examination by the Bureau of Quarantine.

Most of them do not want to return to Lebanon and plan to start businesses in the Philippines.

Usec. Cacdac mentioned that more than a hundred Filipino workers in Lebanon are still processing their documents to return to the Philippines.

There is still a deployment ban for newly hired Filipino workers in Lebanon.

The DMW acknowledges the presence of undocumented Filipino workers in Lebanon, numbering in the thousands.

There are over 17,000 Filipinos in Lebanon, with most of them working as domestic workers.

To recall, Lebanon was raised to Alert Level 3 in connection with the Israel-Hamas war that broke out on October 7.

Under Alert Level 3, the Philippine government implements voluntary repatriation for Filipinos in that country.

The government also assured that they will provide assistance to affected OFWs amid the conflict.

Remains of OFW Angelyn Aguirre who died in Hamas attack arrive in Philippines

Meanwhile, the remains of OFW Angelyn Aguirre, who was killed following the unprecedented attack of Hamas on Israel, have also arrived.

Angelyn was a 32-year-old caregiver who died on October 7, 2023, when her kibbutz in southern Israel was attacked by Hamas while attempting to save the elderly she was caring for. The DMW and OWWA have ensured support for her and will provide her with a hero’s welcome in Binmaley, Pangasinan.

That’s the latest in the Philippine government’s efforts to help OFWs trapped in the ongoing tensions.

Meanwhile, Hamas has released five hostages out of the more than 200 that they snatched in southern Israel during their surprise attack on October 7.

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