“Our welfare officers from OWWA had prepared a contingency plan (for the possible repatriation) of OFWs and their families (in Iraq and Iran),” Elaya said.
He said that OWWA-11 has already prepared the reintegration program called “Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program, a “non-cash livelihood support/assistance intended to provide immediate relief to returning member OFWs, active or non-active who are displaced from their jobs due to war/political conflicts in host countries or policy reform controls and changes by the host government or are victims of illegal recruitment and/or human trafficking or other distressful situations.”
Returning OFWs would receive a livelihood assistance package worth P20,000, according to him.
Elaya noted that not all workers in Iraq wanted to be repatriated.[]
He said the family of an OFW in Iraq went to OWWA-11 last week informing the agency about the preference of their family member there.
The family approached us because the OFW does not want to return home, since he was in a good condition and away from the bombings there, Elaya said.
The US-Iran friction stemmed from the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani upon the orders of US President Donald Trump.[]
