MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed relevant government agencies to prepare for the reintegration of Filipinos returning from Israel, ensuring they have a source of livelihood upon arrival in the country, according to a statement by a foreign affairs official.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega made the announcement during a press briefing at the Palace, noting that such support is standard practice when repatriating Filipinos. He added, “The President also directed relevant agencies to prepare for, of course, the reintegration of the Filipinos when they come home, which is a standard every time we repatriate Filipinos. And, of course, that includes the receipt of aid, financial assistance.”
Repatriates will be eligible for various forms of assistance, including an action fund from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) through its collaboration with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Additionally, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and extend educational support to the children of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
To facilitate the repatriation process, the Philippine embassy in Cairo will dispatch a team to the Gaza border once a humanitarian corridor is declared with the assistance of the United Nations. De Vega explained, “We are providing them funding to be able to rent transportation to bring them from the border to Cairo and to fly them to the Philippines, these 92 [Filipinos].”
Furthermore, the country’s embassy in Amman, Jordan, is in contact with Filipinos in Gaza.
In addition to the reintegration support, the President has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with countries and embassies in Manila to provide critical assistance in locating Filipinos who are still unaccounted for and to facilitate their safe departure from Gaza.
De Vega disclosed that there are approximately 131 Filipinos in Gaza, including Filipino women married to Palestinians, living with their children and even grandchildren, and predominantly of Arab ethnicity. (Presidential News Desk)
