The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed Saturday that 290 Filipinos had been successfully repatriated from Lebanon via chartered flight on Friday.
The plane carrying the returning 233 OFWs, 13 dependents, 21 overseas Filipinos, and their 23 dependents departed Lebanon at 2 p.m. (Beirut time), with an expected arrival in Manila this morning.
To assure the repatriates’ safety, the chartered flight was organized by DMW, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
“The Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Lebanon work hand-in-hand with the host government to facilitate travel documents for Filipinos to join this flight,” said Hans Cacdac, secretary of the Migrant Workers.
Despite growing tensions in the Middle East, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the evacuation of Filipinos in Lebanon “by whatever means necessary.”
A migrant workers’ organization both locally and in the Middle East has reinforced the same appeal for the immediate evacuation of Filipinos from Lebanon, noting the necessity to arrange chartered flights rather than waiting for available commercial planes.
According to DMW, the expected arrival of 290 Filipinos today brings the total number of returned OFWs to 903 and evacuated dependents to 47 since October 2023.
Additionally, MWO continues to supply food and support to 69 Filipinos sheltering in Beirut shelters.
“We are ready to assist those who wish to be repatriated. We encourage OFWs to participate in the voluntary repatriation program. And, as authorized by the President, a whole-of-government strategy is being implemented, with unprecedented financial and other forms of aid,” Cacdac added.
The department would pay P75,000 in financial aid to all repatriates through DMW’s AKSYON Fund, in addition to P75,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and P20,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The Department of Health will provide free medical consultations and psychological assistance to returns.
The DMW would also assist them in establishing a livelihood and seeking employment through its National Reintegration Center for OFWs.
Under Alert Level 3, Filipinos can choose to repatriate voluntarily.
Cacdac earlier stated that of the 514 Filipinos who agreed to be sent home, 264 already had plane tickets, and the remaining 250 have yet to obtain the approval of their departure clearances from the Lebanese government.