13 hours ago
2
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Rudy Santos - The Philippine Star
July 8, 2025 | 12:00am
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator (OWWA) PY Caunan and representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) assisted the 25 OFWs, mostly caregivers, who were given health check-ups by Manila International Airport Authority medics.
OWWA Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — Government officials welcomed the arrival of 25 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel last Sunday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 who availed themselves of the voluntary repatriation program.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator (OWWA) PY Caunan and representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) assisted the 25 OFWs, mostly caregivers, who were given health check-ups by Manila International Airport Authority medics.
Cacdac told the repatriates in Filipino, “The President was worried about your situation, but he’s happy you’ve come home. He says it’s important that government help reaches you, so our only wish is that you use the financial assistance wisely.”
The Department of Migrant Workers and OWWA provided immediate financial aid under their flagship programs AKSYON Fund and Emergency Repatriation Fund, aside from the separate cash aid from Department of Social Welfare and Development.
They were also given Technical Education and Skills Development Assistance training vouchers for their upskilling while staying in the country and medical check-up and referral assistance from the DOH.
“It’s good that we were given financial assistance, we can use this to start a small business,” said OFW Nelizza Baldrias, of Calaca, Batangas. “Thanks to Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and to Bagong Pilipinas because this is the first time we received assistance.”
The 25 OFWs comprise the latest batch of repatriates from Israel under the government’s voluntary repatriation program.
A total of 72 OFWs have returned home since the Israel-Iran conflict erupted last June 13.
Since October 2023, a total of 1,405 Filipino migrant workers have been able to come home through the repatriation program. — Mayen Jaymalin
