Dubai OFW: “Is it worth to return to the Philippines for good?”

After spending years of working abroad, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) dream of the day they finally return to the Philippines. But with the news about inflation in prices of basic commodities, plunging of peso to record year low, is it really worth for OFWs to come back home and settle there for good? This is the question an OFW from Dubai asked on the Filipino Reddit Community: “OFW wants to go home for good in the Philippines? Worth it?”

The OFW has been working in Dubai for a couple of years, he thought it’s time to finally return and settle in the Philippines.

Other OFWs weighed in on this question. One Reddit user advised: “Make sure you have an exit plan in case you ever want to drop in for the long term.”

“I live overseas and go home at least once a year for family or work. Each trip is around 5-10 days long. What goes through my head on the last day? “Glad I don’t have to live here everyday,” shared another user.

“If you have been overseas for long period of time (10 years and more), not worthy to return to the Philippines because you’ll be in the state of shock given that you’re out of Philippine environment for years,” one said.

“Don’t do it. It is not worth it. Unless you got kids staying there or parents and you got a nice business plan coming right up. And even then, I would still think nothing beats living in a developed nation,” a user said, adding that, “Traffic, income tax is extremely high, very poor quality of life. Just travel to the PH when you can if you feel homesick.”

Meanwhile, there are those who encouraged returning back to the Philippines, just with the right investment plans and adequate savings. One of them is an OFW working in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

“If you have adequate savings and a plan to make an income flow for the next 5 years then why not? Life is hard here in the Middle East, it’s difficult. And I’m not saying that PH is easier, but you have your family , friends and better people (arguable) to help you through it,” he says.

“Unless meron ka nang investment or business na kayang suportahan yung lifestyle mo at enough ipon para “insurance,” siguro huwag muna. Ang dami kong nakakausap na ex-OFW na inakala nilang pwede na silang mag-settle ulit sa Pinas pero din kinakaya at naghahanap ulit ng trabaho abroad,” another user narrated.

The OFW who originally posted the question had one realization though: “My life in the Middle East is easier. Yun nga lang, walang family and very limited friends. Hirap din, you can’t monetarily quantify family.”