Eight more Filipino workers returned home from Lebanon on Sunday afternoon, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced.
In a Facebook post, the DMW shared that this brings the total number of Filipinos repatriated under the government’s voluntary repatriation program to 450 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and 28 of their family members.
Each returning OFW will receive P75,000 in financial assistance from the DMW, along with another P75,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). They will also get P20,000 in livelihood support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and skills training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
DMW stated that they expect more OFWs to come back from Lebanon as the Philippine government steps up efforts to bring Filipinos home due to the rising conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants.
On Saturday, nine other OFWs were repatriated from Lebanon. So far, more than 500 Filipinos in Lebanon have requested to return to the Philippines.
The conflict in the region has forced over 1.2 million people to flee their homes since late September, as Israel continues to target southern Lebanon and other areas. Meanwhile, Hezbollah militants have launched rockets into Israel, escalating tensions.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has kept Lebanon under Alert Level 3, which allows for voluntary repatriation of Filipinos.
