So far, more than 500,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have already been repatriated by the Philippine government due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Hans Leo Cacdac said that a total of 502,581 OFW repatriates were transported back to their hometowns after taking precautionary measures and getting negative Covid-19 results.
In a separate report published by the Department of Labor and Employment’s International Labor Affairs Bureau (DOLE-ILAB), it revealed that there are 645,071 OFWs affected by the pandemic, including 627,576 displaced OFWs.
Of the total number, according to ILAB Director Alice Visperas, 49,698 requested to be repatriated, while the remaining 75,297 opted to stay.
“Our government will not renege on its commitment to provide the needed assistance to our OFWs. We will continue to assist them for as long as it takes,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.
