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MANILA, Philippines – Around 178,000 Filipino Overseas Workers (OFW) have been repatriated to the Philippines as nations continue to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Tuesday.
During the House committee hearing on appropriations of the proposed DFA budget for 2021, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said that in addition to OFWs who have already been repatriated, they still expect another 177,000 Filipinos abroad to return to House.
DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said some of the flights that brought Filipinos home were paid for by local crew agencies, while others were taken over by the government.
“Around 34 flights were chartered [to bring OFWs home] and we are renting more. The rest are commercial flights, ”Arriola said.
Arriola added that various programs of the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Commerce and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Labor and Employment ( DOLE) are also available to assist Filipinos returning home.
The DFA official added that his posts abroad also have “embassy on wheels” that offers services such as passports, among others, for Filipinos abroad.
“This is very important in Saudi Arabia, especially since it is a very large country and it takes them hours to get to the embassy. Due to the closures, it was stopped for a while, but now that we have the resources and we have already coordinated with our positions, they said it will resume, ”said Arriola.
September 15, 2020
Today, the DFA reports only 1 new death from COVID-19 among Filipinos abroad. Meanwhile, there are 15 new confirmed cases and 17 new recoveries recorded in Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. (1/3)@eddyboylocsin pic.twitter.com/x5v30z27pR
– DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) September 15, 2020
As of September 15, there are 10,329 cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) involving Filipinos abroad.
Of this number, 2,985 are in treatment; 6,571 have been recovered or have been discharged; while 773 have died.
“To date, the Middle East remains the region with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, recoveries, in treatment, and deaths among our citizens,” said DFA.
“The Americas now has the lowest number in all categories compared to other geographic regions, except for the total number of deaths, where Asia and the Pacific ranks lowest with only 8 deaths,” he added.
CFC
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