DMW and OWWA have assisted 4,049 OFWs in Saudi Arabia, mostly with cash aid, as 675 ask to be repatriated

Government figures as of 26 October show 4,049 OFWs in Saudi Arabia have received 5,496 services, mostly financial assistance, while OWWA says 675 workers have asked to go home and are being taken to airports four to 11 hours away.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have helped 4,049 overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia, delivering 5,496 services as of 26 October, as attacks in the kingdom continue to disrupt air travel, The Global Filipino Magazine reported on 27 October. Because many workers received more than one type of help, services outnumber workers.

The count of workers assisted has nearly doubled in four days, up from 2,061 in the DMW's 23 October update. Not everyone who received help chose to leave: Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said financial aid went to 1,700 OFWs who opted to remain in the kingdom after the airport attack, many of them airport workers.

More workers asking to go home

OWWA's Patricia Yvonne Caunan told ABS-CBN News on 26 October that 675 OFWs have expressed intent to be repatriated, with workers to return in several batches. She said that although Riyadh's airport had reopened, there were still no flights from Manila there, so DMW officials are taking workers to other airports four to 11 hours away. Caunan also said Cacdac was en route to Saudi Arabia to lead the repatriation efforts.

The aid is delivered under the "Saving Lives" component of the government's UPLIFT initiative, funded by the DMW's AKSYON Fund and OWWA's Emergency Repatriation Fund, according to The Global Filipino Magazine.

Where to get help

Workers and families can reach the DMW's 24/7 hotline at 1348 within Metro Manila, (02) 1348 from elsewhere in the Philippines, and +63 2 1348 from abroad, or go to Migrant Workers Offices in Saudi Arabia. The DMW has reminded OFWs that Saudi Arabia strictly enforces laws against spreading unverified information or online rumours and urged them to rely on official channels for security and flight updates. There is no deployment ban on Saudi Arabia, though the government is assessing whether to raise the alert level.

Subscribe to newsletter