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98 OFW amnesty grantees from Abu Dhabi arrive in PH

Another batch of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who availed of the amnesty program offered by the UAE government arrived in Manila on Monday, November 5.

Onboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR659, 98 OFWs arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Abu Dhabi around 8:00 a.m. The batch is the second group of amnesty grantees to arrive in the country following the extension of the program until December 1.

The amnesty grantees were welcomed by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Transportation allowance was also given to OFWs upon their arrival in Manila to be used for their traveling expenses to their respective provinces. Those living in provinces were also given the choice to temporarily stay in a shelter provided by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

All OFWs also received Php5,000 financial assistance from the government.

Reports claim that 3,140 Filipinos have applied for passport renewal to avail of the six-month jobseeker’s visa while 1,203 applied for ‘lost passport’ in order to rectify their visa status.

Under the amnesty program, overstaying Filipinos and other foreign nationals are given the opportunity to rectify their immigration status or to return to their home countries.

DFA continues to urge overstaying OFWs in the UAE to avail of the opportunity to return home before the program ends on December 1.

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