The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that the number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) repatriates have fallen by 14.9 percent, from 16,023 in 2020 to 13,635 in 2021.
Senior Special Assistant Jose Cabrera of DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs said they are conducting an assessment on the fewer number of repatriates.
Cabrera stressed during a conference of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs that repatriation is being given “on the basis of OFWs who need it, who request assistance.”
“So essentially the number of OFWs requesting assistance from the DFA for repatriation in 2021 was definitely much lower than it was for 2020,” he added.
He also emphasized the DFA works hand in hand with other government agencies, such as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Philippine Overseas Labor Offices, to assists Filipinos who to be repatriated.
