By LESLIE AQUINO
Close to 320,000 returning overseas Filipino workers have been safely sent home by the government, the Department of Labor and Employment said Sunday.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration reported to Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III that 319,333 OFWs were transported to their provinces as of Saturday.
This month, 38,516 OFWs were flown and bused to their destinations.
The OFWs were cleared and tested negative of COVID-19.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) took care of their hotel accommodation and food while waiting for the result of their COVID test taken upon arrival in Manila.
The DoLE agency also facilitated their transport back to their provinces as soon as they are cleared of COVID.
Bello said OWWA is relentless in looking after the needs of the returning OFWs.
“There is no stopping the government from extending the assistance to our dear OFWs. We have also enhanced our livelihood programs for the reintegration of our returning heroes,” he said.
The government started transporting OFWs en masse in May after COVID tests and quarantine.
To help OFWs financially, DoLE has also been extending a one-time P10,000 or $200 cash aid under the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program to OFWs whose incomes were affected by the pandemic, both on-site and those stranded in the country.
