NONOY GOVERNMENT HELPS DISTRESSED OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS TO COME HOME

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government has said it will continue to send home overseas Filipino workers who are in distress as part of the Aquino administration's "accelerated" programme.
The Philippine Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) said in a statement that the repatriation of distressed workers, as well as their children who are under the custody of Philippine government-funded halfway houses abroad, will continue until all are flown home.

• Owwa Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said that while the the agency had already repatriated 466 workers and children between June 27 and August 9 from Jeddah and Kuwait, there were at least 800 more pending in Jeddah. Most of the distressed workers are awaiting clearance from their employers before they can return to the Philippines.
• The Filipino workers are being flown home as part of the government's assistance to nationals (ATN) service.
• OWWA said it had shouldered the repatriation costs of the 466 stranded Filipinos. This number was 27 per cent of the 1,757 stranded Filipinos repatriated by Owwa for the first six months of 2010.
• For the whole of 2009, Owwa repatriated 1,903 Filipinos. From September 2008 to July 16, Owwa repatriated 2,830 Filipinos.
• Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz had earlier instructed Owwa to attend to distressed Filipinos after President Benigno Aquino III expressed concern over their plight.
• Dimzon for her part, said they expect an increase in the number of Filipinos awaiting repatriation at Owwa's shelter in Jeddah, as more workers from other areas of Saudi Arabia abscond and seek sanctuary.
• Among those that the Owwa plans to repatriate are the Filipino families that had sought shelter under the Kandara Bridge in Saudi Arabia.

Dimzon said Owwa welfare officers are working with the Philippine Overseas Labour Offices and the Department of Foreign Affairs to complete documentation of OFWs and children.
"Stranded Filipinos will be booked on flights home within one month from obtaining exit clearances and complying with biometric and other departure procedures of immigration authorities," she said.

Source: GN