DFA: 68 distressed OFWs repatriated from Kuwait

At least 68 distressed overseas Filipino workers were repatriated to the Philippines Friday afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sunday. According to a news release, the OFWs arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). "[Philippine embassy to Kuwait] Labor Attache Vivo Vidal and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrative Staff Absalon Aguilar, Jr. escorted the OFWs in the repatriation," the DFA said. DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) Executive Director Ricardo Endaya led DFA-OUMWA representatives in receiving the Filipino repatriates at the airport. OWWA representatives were also at hand to provide assistance and debriefing at the airport. The DFA said the Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) extended appropriate assistance to the OFWs while they were in Kuwait. It added the Embassy and POLO made representations with Kuwait authorities for the expeditious repatriation of the OFWs. Kuwait's concerned Foreign Recruitment Agencies (FRA) provided the plane tickets of the OFWs, the DFA said. — KBK, GMA News