60 more OFWs returning from Israel

MANILA, Philippines — Sixty overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will form the fourth batch of repatriates from Israel who are set to arrive in the country tomorrow.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said there are two infants joining the OFWs who will be arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at 3:55 p.m. via Etihad Airways flight EY 424.

“Of this group, 32 are hotel workers while the remaining 28 are caregivers,” said DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac at a forum held in Quezon City yesterday.

The DMW said this group’s arrival will bring to 119 the total number of OFWs returning to the Philippines since Palestinian militant group Hamas launched combined rocket, ground, sea and air attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Cacdac noted that about 185 Filipinos have requested repatriation from Israel.

“We are looking at more or less 65 to 70 more that need to be repatriated,” Cacdac said.

He also said the government has enough funds to cover repatriation expenses.

The returning OFWs were offered a repatriation assistance package of P50,000 each from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

The amount can be used to address the daily needs of their families.

According to the DMW, there are around 30,000 OFWs in Israel, “99 percent of them are caregivers while the rest are hotel workers.”

Meanwhile, 124 OFWs from Lebanon also expressed willingness to return home to avoid the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants.

The government is pushing for their repatriation from Lebanon within the week.

There are around 17,000 OFWs in Lebanon. — Emmanuel Tupas