Some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were repatriated from Dubai expressed their gratitude to government for sending them home.
The latest batch of repatriates from Dubai composed of 185 individuals arrived in the country over the weekend. This brings the total tally to 815 repatriated OFWs from the emirate since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
The repatriation was facilitated by the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai through the Assistance-to-Nationals funding of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Most of them were distressed migrant workers, pregnant women, families with minors, elderly persons, and Filipinos released from prison. Others were OFWs who were laid off in Dubai due to the ongoing pandemic.
On the Facebook page of The Filipino Times, some of them conveyed their appreciation to Philippine posts in Dubai.
Japat Clemente, who was among the latest batch of repatriates, wrote, “Maraming maraming salamat po sa Philippine Consulate Dubai headed by Sir Paul Cortes at sa lahat ng bumubuo nito, lalo na kay Sir Ron at Mam Michelle. Sa ating mahal na Pangulo Duterte, para sa patuloy na pglilingkod sa mga pilipino. Salamat din po sa OWWA, PAL, Phil Coast Guard.”
Clemente is currently staying in a hotel turned into a government quarantine facility.
Another OFW named Mercedes gave her salute to the same agencies “for making this repatriation via Philippine Airlines PR 659 possible.”
For her part, OFW Lezel Cardeño also commented: “Isa po ako sa naka-avail… Ngayon ko mas lalong napatunayan na ‘di lahat ng nasa posisyon at mga empleyado ay mapagsamantala sa ating gobyerno. Meron at meron pong mabubuti ang kalooban.”
Meanwhile, a Filipino who arrived in the country last July 22 lauded the services provided by various government agencies to arriving OFWs.
In a lengthy post on his Facebook account, Romulo Paras II penned, “Para sa kaalaman ng lahat, lalo na sa mga kababayang OFW na lalapag ng Clark Airport, Pampanga. I just want to share my 5-star service experienced mula sa OWWA, Clark Airport at ng local gov’t unit ng City of San Fernando Pampanga, na aking nasaksihan sa pag-uwi from Dubai last July 22, 2020.
“No need to fill-up any online forms dahil lahat ng kailangan ay ibibigay sayo while on board. From my flight Emirates EK2572 nakalapag ako ng CRK around 3pm ng hapon ng July 22.
“Paglabas ko papunta sa pila kung saan iaasign ang hotel, sinalubong ako ng masayang pagbati ng isang staff na kahit naka mask bakas sa babae ang pag-ngiti” welcome back po Sir, ang daming dalang pasalubong ni Sir.
“Then another guy approached me and ask if OFW, I said yes, so he instructed me to take a seat and hand over me forms needed to fill-up. Sa uupuan mo may mineral water na libre. Bibigay din yung guidelines para sa quarantine.
“Every day an OWWA representative will monitor your temperature. Your food will be served on time. Kahit rasyon ito from OWWA masasarap ang luto at sapat ito. Everytime ibibigay ito maganda ang serbisyo at laging nasa oras.”
The OFW also gave a list of the meals being served for OFWs at their hotel.
Below is Paras’ viral Facebook post on Monday, July 27.
