97 OFWs repatriated from Kuwait arrive home

A total of 97 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were repatriated from Kuwait finally arrived home before dawn Monday. Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported the OFWs arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and were welcomed by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration officials. OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon, who led the welcoming party, said her agency already repatriated more than 900 OFWs in the last six weeks. Philippine authorities said the Kuwaiti government shouldered the repatriation expenses of the OFWs. On Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said some of the OFWs had sought refuge as early as eight months ago. "Most of these Filipinos left their employers for a variety of reasons and sought refuge at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC). They were sheltered at the center between three to eight months," the DFA had said on its website. The FWRC is a government facility operated by the Department of Labor and Employment-OWWA. Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera said representations by the Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office prompted Kuwaiti immigration authorities to waive the usual exit/repatriation requirements. The arrangement was made possible with the cooperation of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and the Ministry of Interior-Department of Immigration. The usual deportation procedure is for those housed at the FWRC to first be surrendered to the local police. The police then summon their employers, who will be required to hand over the worker's passport, have the workers' visa be cancelled and to submit their plane tickets. "Our OFWs were spared from being placed at the deportation center where they could have stayed for more than three months. It can even be longer if the sponsor refuses to cooperate with the police," Primavera said. — RSJ, GMANews.TV