7,880 distressed OFWs repatriated this year – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — The government repatriated more than 7,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) this year as part of its efforts to assist distressed Filipinos in other countries.

Citing a report by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Malacañang said a total of 7,880 overseas Filipinos were repatriated from January to November, the majority or 57.67 percent of them from the Middle East.

A total of 42 overseas Filipinos and distressed migrant workers are from Kuwait while 70 are from Sri Lanka, which experienced an economic crisis this year.

OFWs play a key role in the Philippine economy because of their remittances. Money sent home by overseas Filipinos contribute to consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the Philippine economy. Remittances sent by OFWs through banks or formal channels totaled $2.911 billion in October, higher than the $2.812 billion posted in the same month last year and last September’s $2.840 billion.

In a speech delivered in Cambodia last month, President Marcos vowed to further strengthen coordination between the DFA and the newly formed Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure immediate assistance to needy Filipinos abroad.

Earlier this year, the DMW launched the One Repatriation Command Center in Mandaluyong City that will serve as a one-stop shop for distressed Filipinos who want to return home.

On the delivery of consular services, the DFA issued 3,589,620 passports from January to October this year, Malacañang said in a statement. The agency also issued 55,574 visas and 551,635 Apostille certificates as of November and has opened six additional temporary off-site passport services facilities.

Bilateral agreements were signed on defense, culture, counterterrorism, trade and investment, technology and data protection and migrant workers’ protection, according to the DFA accomplishment report.