The eleventh batch of OFW amnesty grantees, 105, from the UAE arrived in the Philippines on Thursday, October 4.
Since August 1, a total of 1,301 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the UAE have arrived in the Philippines after availing of the amnesty program offered by the UAE government.
Under the three-month amnesty program which began on August 1 and will end on October 31, overstaying Filipinos and other foreign nationals are given the opportunity to rectify their immigration status or to return to their home countries.
Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana said that the Philippine government shouldered the exit permits and other penalties of the OFWs as well as the airline ticket on their way home. Transportation allowance was also given to OFWs upon their arrival in Manila to be used for their traveling expenses to their respective provinces.
All OFWs also received Php5,000 financial assistance from the government.
During the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano personally extended the country’s gratitude towards the UAE government, through Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, for granting thousands of overstaying OFWs of the opportunity to return home.
“We thank you not only for the hospitality extended to more than 600,000 of our fellow Filipinos but also for making it possible for those who do not have proper immigration status the opportunity to either regularize their stay or go home to their loved ones in the Philippines,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano also noted UAE’s efforts to protect the welfare of the OFWs in the Gulf state particularly the law for domestic workers that was signed last year.
