OWWA braces for return of OFWs from Middle East

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) regional office here is bracing for the expected return of hundreds of Bicolanos who could be evacuated

from Iran, Iraq and other Middle East countries as tension in the region escalates.

"Always ready po tayo. Rest assured na oras na umuwi ang mga kababayan natin na apektado ng kaguluhan sa Iraq at Iran, meron po tayong programa para sa kanila," said OWWA Bicol Officer-in-Charge

Henry Miraflor.

Miraflor said the returning OFWs will benefit from the "Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay" program of OWWA.

"Once na may lumapit sa amin na OFW, irerequest po natin yan ng funding sa main office through our Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay program," he explained.

"Sa ngayon po wala kaming data kung ilan ang mga apektado but in many cases, ipinapaalam po sa amin ng national office kung may Bicolanong umuwi, nag-repatriate dahil sa giyera at agad naman nating tinutulungan yan," he added.

President Duterte has created a special body that will craft an evacuation plan for OFWs affected by the tension in the Middle East.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) also urged the government to prepare for an "early escape plan" for more than 1.2 million Filipino workers in the Middle East as tension rises between Iran and the United States.

On Wednesday morning, Iran launched more than a dozen missiles at 2 Iraqi bases that hold US troops as a revenge following the US airstrike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.