RETURNING OFWS. The 6th batch of OFW returnees from Israel arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Tuesday (Nov. 7, 2023). The group is composed of 34 caregivers and eight hotel workers (Photo courtesy of DMW)
MANILA – Some 42 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from war-torn Israel arrived at the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the group is the sixth batch of OFWs repatriated by the Philippine government.
The group comprised of 34 caregivers and eight hotel workers.
OFW Jesyl Lucas, a caregiver for 10 years in Jerusalem, expressed her gratitude to the Philippine government.
"Nagpapasalamat po ako sa DMW, sa OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration), at sa lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas para masiguro ang aming pag-uwi (I thank the DMW, OWWA and all the Philippine government agencies for securing our flight back to the country)," she said.
"Sa panahon po ngayon, hindi na pera ang mahalaga, buhay na po kasi kahit puro giyera ang nangyayari sa buong istorya ng Israel, first time ito na mangyari na mayroon ng nakapasok kaya yung kasiguruhan po namin yun ang aming pinangangambahan lalo na ng aming mga pamilya (In this situation, our lives are more important than money because even if war is normal in Israel, this is the first time that [Hamas group] were able to come in, we were worried about our safety, as well as our family)," Lucas added.
The repatriation of the OFWs in Israel was made possible through the joint efforts of the Philippine Embassy in Israel, DMW and OWWA, and for facilitating their safe exit from Israel and for the immediate assistance and other forms of support upon their arrival in the country.
As of Nov. 7, there are 184 OFWs from Israel who have safely returned to the Philippines through the government repatriation efforts.
DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said he expects more returning OFWs as hostilities between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas show no signs of toning down in the coming weeks. (PNA)
