(Photo courtesy of Philippine Airlines)
MANILA -- The third batch of remains of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday afternoon.
A chartered Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight carrying 54 caskets from Riyadh arrived in Manila at 2:22 p.m.
According to PAL, the remains were from Alkhobar (20), Jeddah (10), and Riyadh (24). Thirty-nine of them died from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
The repatriation was through the joint efforts of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
DOLE earlier reported that 49 remains of OFWs from Saudi Arabia arrived in the country last July 10, while the second batch carrying 88 remains arrived last July 19.
The remains of those who died of Covid-19 would be cremated immediately, while the kin of those who died of natural causes have the option to bury them or have them cremated, the DOLE earlier announced. (PNA)
