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Manila, Philippines – The number of Filipino Overseas Workers (OFW) repatriated due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has reached more than 174,000, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In a statement Sunday, the DFA said it brought home 9,671 OFW last week, bringing the total to 174,039 since it began its repatriation efforts in February 2020.
Of the total number, 61,716 are workers at sea, while 112,323 are on land, the agency added.
“The DFA remains relentless in facilitating more flights, especially from the Middle East. This week, the DFA brought home more than 7,500 of our nationals from that region through 27 special commercial repatriation flights, ”he said.
The department said 11 of these flights were from the United Arab Emirates, seven from Saudi Arabia, four from Qatar, three from Bahrain and one from Kuwait and one from Oman.
“The return of Filipino seafarers also continues, as the DFA facilitated the repatriation of more than 2,800 maritime workers, including a Filipino fisherman who arrived in Central Sulawesi waters in April 2020,” he said.
The DFA added that it also provided assistance to “a cancer patient who finally made it home to Manila aboard a special commercial repatriation flight from Thailand last Wednesday.”
In a separate statement on Sunday, the department said the patient was among 76 Filipinos brought home from Thailand on Wednesday.
“The DFA, along with its Philippine embassies, consulates and affiliated agencies around the world, remains fully committed to bringing our citizens home abroad amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
