Six Filipinos return home from Iran

MANILA – Six Filipino workers from Iran arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Saturday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

The group is the first batch of Filipinos repatriated from Iran following its conflict with Israel that started on June 13 and ended with a ceasefire on June 24.

Five of the overseas Filipino workers were employed as shrimp hatchery technicians in Iran.

The other one is a domestic worker based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who had accompanied her employer to Iran as a tourist.

Two more are expected to arrive later.

They were welcomed by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega and DMW Assistant Secretary Venecio Legaspi, along with medical workers and a social welfare officer from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The repatriation was made possible through the efforts of the Philippine Embassy in Tehran, led by Ambassador Roberto Manalo, in close coordination with the DMW and OWWA.

Upon arrival, the workers received financial assistance from DMW, OWWA and DSWD, and were provided with food and medical services by the airport medical team.

OWWA will provide temporary hotel accommodations and domestic flights back to their home provinces.

In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the repatriated workers will continue to receive reintegration assistance from the government. (with a report from Joyce Ann Rocamora/PNA)