Second batch of OFWs from Egypt arrive in Manila

The second batch of 32 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) repatriated from conflict-hit Egypt arrived in Manila Wednesday afternoon. Radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported the second batch arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 aboard Emirates flight 334 at 3:30 p.m. Officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) were on hand to welcome the second batch of repatriates. OWWA head Carmelita Dimzon said they will assist the OFWs in going home and extend financial assistance to those wanting to set up new means of livelihood. Earlier, the DFA said the second batch included 15 females, nine minors and eight males. A separate report on radio dzRH said two infants were among those repatriated. Last Sunday afternoon, the first batch of 26 Filipino repatriates arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Like with the first batch, the Philippine embassy made arrangements with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Cairo in booking the flight to Manila, the DFA said. Filipino organizations in Egypt also helped repatriates, according to the department. The DFA said the Department of Labor and Employment will give the repatriates post-trauma debriefing and counseling, as well as repatriation packages. Inefficent evacuation, lack of jobs In a release, migrants’ rights group Migrante International alleged that the low number of repatriates from Egypt is due not only to the government’s “inefficiency" in implementing its evacuation plan, but also because of the lack of job options and livelihood back home. “Notwithstanding government inefficiency in the repatriation, the other reason why OFWs would rather stay in Egypt is that alam naman nilang pagbalik nila rito ay hindi tiyak ang kabuhayan nila (they know that when they return to the Philippines uncertainty shrouds their livelihood)," said Migrante chairperson Garry Martinez. Just like in previous evacuations from conflict-ridden nations, most OFWs would rather risk danger and death instead of job insecurity when they return to the Philippines, Martinez said. “This is the saddest reality for our OFWs, especially now in light of soaring prices of basic commodities and utilities," he said. He called on the Aquino administration to immediately address the employment and livelihood of all repatriated OFWs, not only from Egypt but from other countries as well. “Hindi sasapat ang P10,000 na reintegration training package na ipinagmamalaki ng DFA at OWWA. Ang kailangan ng ating mga kababayan ay trabahong nakabubuhay at may katiyakan (The P10,000 reintegration training package that the DFA and OWWA are boasting of will not be enough. What Filipinos need are decent-paying and secure jobs back home)," Martinez said. — With Jerrie Abella/VS, GMA News