Sixty-eight Filipino workers returned to the Philippines from Saudi Arabia on Saturday night, the latest group brought home through a government-assisted repatriation effort amid security concerns in the kingdom.
The workers, who came from Riyadh, arrived aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR928 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Oct. 31.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provided food, financial assistance and transportation support for onward journeys by land and air. Temporary accommodations were also arranged for some of the returning workers.
Their arrival followed other groups repatriated in recent days as Philippine labor and diplomatic officials coordinated departures from Saudi Arabia and assistance upon arrival.
On Friday, Oct. 30, another 61 Filipino workers returned aboard the same Qatar Airways flight. Personnel from the Department of Migrant Workers and the welfare administration met them at the airport, where they received food, transportation and financial assistance. A Manila International Airport Authority medical team also provided free medical services.
The number of workers and dependents repatriated from Saudi Arabia since Oct. 19 stood at 573 before Saturday’s arrival. An updated cumulative total was not provided.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac accompanied the 61 workers on Friday’s flight and said the assistance reflected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s instructions to support Filipinos facing emergencies abroad.
“There’s no question that our president’s instruction is that in times of great need, we must be there. That is why we were there,” Cacdac said.
A separate group of 45 workers and five dependents also arrived Friday aboard Gulf Air Flight GF154. Welfare officers assisted that group’s travel from Riyadh to Al Qassim before its flight to the Philippines.
The repatriation operation involves the Department of Migrant Workers, the welfare administration, the Philippine Embassy and Migrant Workers Offices in Saudi Arabia. Assistance falls under the “Saving Lives” component of the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport initiative.
Details of a specific incident prompting the departure of Saturday’s group and the number of additional workers awaiting repatriation were not provided.
