MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved an additional P3 billion to bolster the government’s repatriation and reintegration programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, as authorities move to provide long-term assistance to thousands of Filipinos returning home.
The fresh funding will strengthen efforts of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to assist displaced OFWs from their evacuation and return to the Philippines up to their reintegration into the local economy through employment, livelihood, and other support programs, Malacañang said Monday.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the President directed concerned agencies to ensure that repatriated workers receive sustained government assistance and opportunities to rebuild their lives after returning home.
“War or not, there are Filipinos in extreme distress that we should bring home,” Recto said in a statement.
The additional allocation will cover travel arrangements, post-arrival services, job placement assistance, livelihood programs, and other reintegration initiatives for returning workers and their families.
Government data showed that as of June 17, a total of 10,446 Filipinos had already been repatriated from various countries in the Middle East. The figure includes 8,281 OFWs, 1,803 dependents, and 362 stranded Filipinos.
Recto said Marcos emphasized that government support should not end once the workers arrive in the country.
“Ang utos nya ay hindi pwedeng paglapag dito, bahala na kayo. Ang gusto ng Pangulo, may hatid sa probinsya sa lubhang nangangailangan, at higit sa lahat mga economic opportunities,” Recto said.
Under the government’s assistance package, returning OFWs may avail themselves of financial assistance, psychosocial counseling, medical assessments, employment facilitation, and livelihood support.
The DMW has also intensified its reintegration efforts through the Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa job fairs and related programs, which connect returning workers to local and overseas employment opportunities, entrepreneurship training, and financial literacy initiatives.
According to the agency, at least 15 reintegration and job-matching activities have already been conducted nationwide to help returnees secure alternative sources of income.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has likewise expanded assistance through its Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! Program, which has already provided livelihood support to 664 recently repatriated OFWs.
Qualified beneficiaries may receive up to P20,000 in start-up capital assistance for small business ventures.
Recto added that the Department of Education has opened a special hiring pathway for repatriated Filipino teachers, allowing eligible returnees to seek employment in public schools.
The additional P3-billion allocation forms part of the government’s broader response to the humanitarian impact of the Middle East conflict and its effort to help displaced Filipinos regain economic stability after returning to the Philippines./PN
