DMW: Government to assist Pinoys facing deportation in US

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is preparing to assist the estimated 370,000 Filipinos facing possible deportation from the United States.

Republican president-elect Donald Trump is targeting to deport around one million illegal immigrants annually.

From 2017 to 2020, over 3,500 Filipinos were deported from the US.

Financial, legal and other support mechanisms for affected Filipinos have been prepared by concerned agencies, according to Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is ready to assist overseas Filipino workers, whether documented or undocumented, Cacdac said.

Through the Aksyon fund and emergency repatriation fund, Cacdac said the DMW will ensure that deported Filipinos have immediate access to essential services.

Job retooling, reskilling and employment facilitation will also be extended to affected Filipinos, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, he noted.

Job opportunities abroad are being explored by the DMW, focusing on government-to-government agreements in markets such as Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary and Japan to provide alternative employment options for returnees.

Illegal Filipino migrants with unpaid wage claims and other labor-related complaints are advised to contact Migrant Workers’ Offices in the US.