MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the release of an additional PHP3 billion to strengthen government efforts to repatriate and reintegrate overseas Filipino workers displaced by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, officials said Sunday.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the funding boost will cover the full scope of assistance for returning Filipinos, from evacuation and travel costs to reintegration programs upon arrival in the Philippines. He emphasized that the directive ensures returning workers receive sustained support beyond immediate transport.
“War or not, there are Filipinos in extreme distress that we should bring home,” Recto said, underscoring the urgency of the government’s response.
As of June 17, authorities have repatriated 10,446 Filipinos from the region, including 8,281 overseas workers, 1,803 dependents and 362 stranded nationals.
Recto said Marcos ordered that repatriation efforts extend beyond basic transport, ensuring that returnees are assisted upon arrival and reintegrated into their communities. He noted that support includes transportation to home provinces for those in need and access to economic opportunities.
Under the Department of Migrant Workers’ program, returning Filipinos are eligible for a “standard welcome package” that includes financial aid, psychosocial counseling, medical assessments, reemployment assistance and livelihood support.
To accelerate reintegration, the agency has conducted 15 nationwide job fairs under its Bayanihan Para Sa Balikbayang Manggagawa program, linking returnees to local and overseas employment opportunities, as well as financial literacy and entrepreneurship initiatives.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has also extended livelihood grants to 664 returning workers through its Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! program, offering up to PHP20,000 in startup assistance for small businesses.
In addition, the Department of Education has introduced a hiring pathway aimed at facilitating the entry of returning Filipino teachers into public schools, part of broader efforts to absorb skilled workers into the domestic labor force.
