675 OFWs from Saudi to be repatriated — OWWA

MANILA — Hundreds of OFWs from Saudi Arabia are set to be repatriated this coming week, said Atty. Patricia Yvonne Caunan of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

As of this Monday, 360 OFWs have been successfully repatriated due to ongoing tension in the Middle Eastern country, with hundreds more arriving in the next few days.

Saudi Arabia is facing escalating waves of drone and missile attacks from Houthi rebels.

Caunan said a total of 675 OFWs have expressed intent to be repatriated.

“Although nagbukas ang Riyadh International Airport, wala pa rin pong flights mula Manila dito at kaya binabyahe natin ang ating mga kababayan sa ibang airport,” Caunan said.

Caunan said officials from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) will transport the OFWs to other airports, which are four to 11 hours away, so they can be repatriated.

She also shared that DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac is en route to Saudi Arabia to facilitate and lead the repatriation efforts.

“Itong mga kababayan nating ito, sila yung naka schedule na talagang bumalik,” Caunan said.

“Isang milyon ang kababayan natin sa Saudi Arabia, araw-araw marami talaga tayo umuuwi kababayan,” she added.

The OFWs will be repatriated in several batches. Upon arrival in the Philippines, they will be given their needs from relevant government agencies.

Meanwhile, Caunan said they have not received a request for repatriation from the OFWs and migrants in France and Italy following widespread riots in those countries.