President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the release of an additional P3 billion to strengthen the repatriation and reintegration program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the ongoing Middle East conflict, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Sunday.
Recto said the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) will use the fund to cover the full “repatriation chain,” from post-departure assistance and airfare to reintegration support.
He said the President wants to go beyond a “mere airport-to-airport” return, ensuring OFWs receive assistance upon arrival and support in rebuilding their livelihoods.
“War or not, there are Filipinos in extreme distress that we should bring home,” Recto said.
He added that returnees should not be left on their own after landing.
“Ang utos niya ay hindi puwedeng paglapag dito, bahala na kayo, may hatid sa probinsya ang mga lubhang nangangailangan, at higit sa lahat, may economic opportunities,” he said.
DMW data showed that as of June 17, a total of 10,446 OFWs have been safely repatriated from the Middle East since the conflict escalated in February.
Recto said returning workers are being given a “standard welcome package,” which includes financial assistance, psychosocial support, medical checks, reemployment guidance, and livelihood aid.
He said many of the returning OFWs are expected to contribute to the domestic workforce, describing their skills as a form of “technology transfer” that benefits the economy.
“This is a kind of technology transfer that helps the economy. This is a brain gain we need,” he said.
To support reintegration, the DMW has conducted 15 “Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa” job fairs nationwide, providing access to employment opportunities, livelihood programs, and financial literacy training.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), through its Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay program, has also extended P20,000 in livelihood assistance each to 664 OFWs for small-business start-ups.
The Department of Education (DepEd), meanwhile, has provided a hiring pathway for returning licensed teachers, allowing them to join public schools.
DepEd data showed around 10,000 former OFWs have entered the public teaching workforce across multiple administrations.