Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to assist repatriated and stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East. This is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure that OFWs receive the necessary interventions aligned with the implementation of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) framework.

According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao reported that over PHP4.4 million in assistance had been provided to 3,723 OFWs as of April 28. 'Binubuo ito ng mga stranded OFWs na naapektuhan ng mga travel restrictions dahil sa ongoing tensions sa Middle East, at yung mga repatriated OFWs na humingi ng tulong sa ating pamahalaan para ma-facilitate and pag-uwi nila sa Pilipinas (The number comprises OFWs affected by travel restrictions because of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and repatriated OFWs who asked for assistance from the government to facilitate their return to the Philippines),' she said.

Of the total, 3,314 repatriated OFWs were from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar; while some 409 stranded OFWs originated from airports located in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, KSA, Ireland, Portugal, Iraq, and Oman. Among the assistance provided to OFWs include financial assistance worth more than PHP4 million to 762 OFWs; Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) grants amounting to PHP120,000 to six OFWs; and medical assistance amounting to PHP300,000 to an OFW in crisis.

'Bukod sa tulong pinansyal, nagbigay rin ang DSWD ng psychological first aid (PFA) sa lahat ng higit 3,700 na OFWs na bumalik sa ating bansa (Besides the financial assistance, the DSWD also provided PFA to all the over 3,700 OFWs who returned to the country),' Dumlao said. She said the DSWD continues to collaborate with other government agencies to ensure the provision of appropriate assistance to the OFWs.

'Patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan ang DSWD sa Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) ukol sa schedule ng mga arriving OFWs, para kaisa ng ibang mga ahensiya, masigurado natin na mabibigyan ng agarang psychosocial interventions at iba pang assistance ang ating mga kababayan na naapektuhan ng krisis sa Gulf Region (The DSWD continues to coordinate with the DMW for the schedule of arriving OFWs so that, along with other agencies, we can ensure that those who are affected by the crisis in the Gulf Region will get prompt psychosocial interventions and other assistance),' Dumlao said.