Nearly 140,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been brought home by the government since it started its mass repatriation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday said 139,095 OFWs have been repatriated by the government since May 15, 2020.
Of the said cases, 7,604 arrived in the country from Aug. 10 to 12, 2020.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Cacdac the total repatriated OFWs this week is expected to reach the 10,000 as in previous weeks.
In the last five weeks, the number of repatriated OFWs by DOLE and the Department of Foreign Affairs exceeded the 10,000 mark. This as the Covid-19 pandemic caused business disruptions worldwide.
In a related development, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said the number of OFWs, who were affected by the large explosion in Beirut, Lebanon has risen to 72.
Bello said they identified 19 other OFWs, who were injured, and five others who were hospitalized, because of the incident on Aug. 4, 2020.
This is on top of the 48 other OFWs, who initially reported to be affected by the explosion. Of which, 42 were injured; 4 died; and two are still missing.
Bello said 28 of these affected OFWs were already provided with welfare and relief aid.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes
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