162 repatriated OFWs arrive home from Lebanon

A total of 162 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) repatriated from Lebanon arrived home from Beirut Tuesday afternoon. The Department of Foreign Affairs said this was part of efforts to help distressed OFWs from the Middle East and other regions. "Majority of the OFWs were victims of maltreatment who ran away from their employers or agency and were housed at the Filipino Workers Resource Center in Lebanon," the DFA said on its website Tuesday night. Welcoming the OFWs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) executive director Enrico Fos, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Carmelita Dimzon, DFA-OUMWA Principal Assistant Maurice Tiempo and representatives from DFA-OUMWA, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the OWWA. DOLE, OWWA and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office shouldered the airfare of the repatriated OFWs. Other expenses were paid for using Assistance to Nationals funds. The DFA-OUMWA continues to work closely with the Philippine Embassies and Consulates General to facilitate the repatriation of other distressed Filipinos overseas, the DFA said. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV