By Ariel Fernandez

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcome at the Airport the arrival of 35 overseas Filipino workers [OFWs] including nine 9 minors who availed of the amnesty program to safely return to the country from Jordan. The OFWs were on board Saudia Airlines flight SV 862 which arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport [NAIA] Terminal 1 on Wednesday afternoon.

Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Jordan H.E. Akmad Sakkam, who accompanied the group, said that this is the third batch of a total of 400 OFWs repatriated since the Jordan government implemented the amnesty program on December 12, 2018, to June 12, 2019. The program was extended until June 15, 2019.

Sakkam added that most of the repatriated were distressed domestic workers and the Philippine government shouldered all their travel expenses back to the country.

The OFWs received 100 US dollars from OWWA, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the DFA for their financial assistance upon their arrival.

Ambassador Sakkam personally distributed financial assistance.

Sakkam said there are about 600 undocumented and distressed OFWs remaining in the Philippine embassy shelter for abused migrants in Jordan waiting to be repatriated back to the country.

According to Ambassador Sakkam, there are about 45,000 OFWs in Jordan and 90% of them are domestic helpers and 10% are in the construction sector.

Sakkam encourages all undocumented OFWs in Jordan to contact the Philippine embassy and avail of the repatriation program of the Philippine government for their own safety.