102 distressed OFWs home from Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 102 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait arrived in Manila yesterday morning following their repatriation by the Department of Migrant

Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

In a statement, the OWWA said the distressed OFWs, who were accompanied by OWWA administrator Arnel Ignacio, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
“Upon arrival at the airport, the repatriated OFWs received cash assistance from OWWA amounting to P10,000 each,” the agency said.

The 102 OFWs comprise the second batch of repatriates from Kuwait brought back by the special DMW team.

Last Tuesday, Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac Cacdac returned to the Philippines along with 60 distressed OFWs from Kuwait.

Ignacio said 207 OFWs are still set to return home in three more batches. These include 63 on Jan. 23, 82 on Jan. 26 and 62 on Jan. 30.

A total of 421 distressed OFWs had been staying at the Bahay Kalinga shelter in Kuwait when DMW Secretary Susan Ople dispatched a team led by Cacdac and Ignacio to check on the shelter.

The team’s main task is the immediate repatriation of distressed OFWs in Kuwait by facilitating the release of their exit visas and travel documents.