The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that 37,095 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been repatriated in October.
It has been 8 months since the DFA conducted repatriation flights for OFWs affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
This brings the total number of repatriated Filipinos to 237,363 since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this number, 77,326 OFWs (32.58%) are sea-based while 160,037 (67.42%) are land-based.
The Middle East comprised the most number of repatriates in October with 31,849 or 85.86%. Some 2,716 or 7.32% were from Asia and the Pacific; 2,406 or 6.49% from Europe; 92 or 0.25% from Africa; and 32 or 0.09% from the Americas.
The DFA said that October’s repatriations were marked by several “firsts” — the mass repatriation of more than 500 Agrostudies students from Israel, the safe return of 92 OFWs from Benghazi, Libya, and the first-ever repatriation by sea from Indonesia of 40 Filipino fishermen via the BRP Tubbataha.
The DFA also chartered three flights from Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which flew home 920 Filipinos including OFWs with chronic medical conditions.
The department also facilitated several medical repatriations from Australia, Brazil, French Polynesia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Oman, Spain, and the USA.
“As we sustain our repatriation efforts in the last two months of the year, the DFA remains fully committed to bringing home our kababayan, whatever challenges we may face,” said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola said in a statement.
The DFA expects to repatriate more than 107,000 Filipinos by year-end.
THE NUMBERS:
31,849 or 85.86% from the Middle East;
2,716 or 7.32% from Asia and the Pacific;
2,406 or 6.49% from Europe;
92 or 0.25% from Africa; and
32 or 0.09% from the Americas
