MANILA — The Philippine government has provided more than 3.2 million pesos ($57,000) in financial assistance to overseas Filipino workers repatriated from the Middle East as authorities respond to the impact of an ongoing geopolitical crisis, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said Thursday.
Assistant Secretary Ada Colico said the agency has assisted 3,260 affected Filipino workers as of April 23, including 609 who have returned to the country and received a combined 3.209 million pesos to help them restart their lives in their home provinces.
The support forms part of a broader government effort under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) framework, which aims to coordinate aid across agencies.
“In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DSWD extended psychosocial first aid, financial assistance, livelihood support and medical aid to help returning OFWs,” Colico said.
Most of the assistance has focused on psychosocial support, with 2,851 repatriated workers receiving counseling and related services after seeking government help to return home. Another 409 workers stranded at airports due to travel restrictions also received similar aid from social workers.
The agency has also begun providing livelihood grants to help returnees reintegrate economically. One worker from the Ilocos region and four from Central Luzon each received 20,000 pesos under the government’s Sustainable Livelihood Program. In addition, the DSWD extended 300,000 pesos in medical assistance to one worker in crisis.
Colico said the department continues to coordinate with other government agencies as repatriation efforts remain underway, emphasizing a “whole-of-government” approach to support affected workers.
“We remain in close coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers to ensure a smooth, safe and dignified reintegration process for all our OFW kababayans returning from the Middle East,” she said.
