MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the release of an additional P3 billion to strengthen government efforts for the repatriation and reintegration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In a report, it said that Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the additional funding will support the full “repatriation chain,” covering post-departure assistance, airfare, and reintegration programs for returning Filipinos.

“War or not, there are Filipinos in extreme distress that we should bring home,” Recto said in a statement on Sunday, June 21.

As of June 17, a total of 10,446 Filipinos have been safely repatriated to the Philippines through humanitarian flights organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (Department of Migrant Workers).

The figure includes 8,281 overseas Filipino workers, 1,803 dependents, and 362 stranded Filipino citizens.

Recto said some of the flights also served as medical evacuation missions.

“If you will recall, these flights became medevacs for sick Filipinos as well. The DMW, through the brilliant leadership of Secretary Hans Cacdac, brought medical personnel on board to care for them,” he said.

Beyond airport assistance

Recto said President Marcos wants repatriation efforts to continue beyond arrival in the Philippines, ensuring returning Filipinos receive sustained assistance.

“Ang utos niya ay hindi puwedeng paglapag dito, bahala na kayo (His instruction is that it cannot be a case of ‘you’ve landed here, you’re on your own’),” he said.

He added that the government aims to provide transportation support to provinces, along with access to employment and livelihood opportunities.

The returnees may also avail of a “standard welcome package” that includes financial aid, psychosocial counseling, medical checks, job matching, and livelihood assistance.

Jobs and reintegration support

To speed up reintegration, the Department of Migrant Workers has conducted 15 nationwide job fairs under its Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa program, connecting OFWs to local and overseas employment and livelihood opportunities.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) has also provided livelihood assistance to 664 recently returned OFWs under its Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program, which offers up to P20,000 in startup capital.

Recto said the administration also views returning OFWs as a resource for national development.

“By tapping the skills of the OFWs honed by their work abroad, society benefits as well. This is a kind of technology transfer that helps the economy. This is a brain gain we need,” he said.

Teachers’ reintegration pathway

The Department of Education (Department of Education (Philippines)) has also created a hiring pathway for returning licensed Filipino teachers seeking to join the public school system.

Data from DepEd show that about 10,000 former OFWs have entered the public teaching workforce across different administrations.