Flag carrier Philippine Airlines on Friday airlifted and brought to Manila another batch of Filipino workers from Kuwait.
At least 160 OFWs and 30 children arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on board PAL flight PR 669, bringing to more than 2,000 the total number of Filipinos that PAL and other airlines brought home since he repatriation program started last Sunday.
Various airlines granted the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to help the government to repatriate the distressed Filipino workers in Kuwait.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration officials said most of the distressed workers were victims of illegal recruitment who entered Kuwait through neighboring countries.
Officials of OWWA and other government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Labor and Employment welcomed the new batch of repatriated OFWs.
The OFWs were given livelihood and financial assistance by the government before going to their respective provinces.
Those who have no relatives in Manila were offered to stay in the OWWA headquarters in Pasay City.
PAL Corporate Communications officer Jonathan Gesmundo said the airline has mounted six flights and has already transported 1,240 OFWs from Kuwait since Feb. 11.
The first two flights were discounted fare and which was paid by the government, while the rest of the flights are free.
Cebu Pacific Air also provided one special flight using its Airbus A330 to repatriate almost 500 OFWs.
Meanwhile, OWWA said they will provide livelihood program to OFWs who wants to avail or interested in their program.
OWWA officials also urged OFWs to file complaints against their abusive employers. They will also summon the recruitment agencies involved in deploying the OFWs to Kuwait.
Michelle Raquini, 32, of Santa Ana, Manila, an OFW, said that if she would return to Kuwait she will never accept a household job. She added she wants to work in beauty salon or in a restaurant.
More than two million Filipinos are working in Kuwait and other Middle East countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
