MANILA – The first batch composed of 64 overstaying Filipinos who availed of the two-month visa amnesty program of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday.
In a social media post, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said the group arrived on board the Philippine Airlines flight PR659.
Personnel of OWWA lead by Repatriations and Assistance Division chief Falconi Millar as well as representatives from Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Social Welfare and Development and NAIA Medical Team welcomed and assisted the first batch of the 2,000 Filipinos who availed of the amnesty program that started on Sept. 1.
“Dahil nga sa amnesty program na ito, ang ating mga Pilipinong repatriates ay nakauwi sa Pilipinas nang walang multa o parusa (Because of this amnesty program, our Filipino repatriates were able to return home to the Philippines without fine or punishment),” the OWWA post read.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the group is composed of 35 Filipinos from Abu Dhabi and 29 from Dubai.
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver led the One-Country-Team UAE composed of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, and Migrant Workers Offices (MWO) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in facilitating the repatriation of Filipino amnesty seekers back to the country.
The UAE amnesty program waives fines and penalties and allows overstaying Filipinos and other expatriates to leave the country without facing legal repercussions, with the option to re-enter the UAE in the future with an appropriate visa.
The amnesty program covers all types of visas, including tourist and expired residency visas.
Children who were born with no documents can also avail of the amnesty and have their status rectified.
The DFA said that on the first week of the implementation of the program, over 2,000 Filipinos had already availed of the program.
The Philippine Embassy in UAE said majority of these OFWs had previously escaped from their employers and were unable to secure permanent employment.
The DMW through its MWOs and the OWWA funded the airfare of the repatriates.
The repatriates received financial assistance, food and transportation assistance going to their respective provinces from OWWA. (PNA)
