PASAY CITY, Philippines — Seventeen overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, returned home safely on the night of October 1, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) announced.
They arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at about 9:50 p.m. aboard Cebu Pacific flight 5J741.
Temporary Shelter Before the Flight Home
Before their repatriation, the OFWs stayed at the Migrant Workers Resource Center (MWRC) in Riyadh. They were housed there while their documents and travel arrangements were processed.
The MWRC gave them a safe place to wait while officials completed the requirements for their return.
Assistance on Arrival
The OWWA Repatriation Team and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Medical Team met the workers as soon as they landed. The returning OFWs received arrival assistance at the airport.
Continued Support From Regional Offices
OWWA said its Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs) will keep assisting the 17 workers. This support includes arrangements for their onward travel to their home provinces.
Part of the Government’s Ongoing Response
According to OWWA, the repatriation is part of the government’s ongoing response to the needs of OFWs. It follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to make sure Filipinos who need help getting home safely receive immediate assistance and essential services.
Several agencies worked together on the effort, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), OWWA, and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO). Their coordination covered every stage of the process. This began with temporary accommodation and document processing in Riyadh and continued through the workers’ safe arrival in Manila.
For the 17 workers, the next step is the trip back to their provinces and their families, with OWWA’s regional offices supporting them along the way.