The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait’s Embassy Assisted Repatriation Program (EARP) continues this 2020, sending home 32 undocumented and distressed OFWs under the first batch of this year’s EARP on 6 March 2020.
he 32 Overseas Filipino Workers who comprise the first batch of the Embassy Assisted Repatriation Program for 2020 make their way to the bus that will bring them to Kuwait International Airport on 6 March 2020. ( Kuwait DFA )
In a statement, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. and Consul General Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot thanked the Ministry of Interior’s Illegal Residency Monitoring and Immigration Departments, and the Public Authority for Manpower for looking after the welfare of the 32 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) prior to their departure from Kuwait.
“In 2019, the Philippine Embassy repatriated close to 500 of our undocumented and distressed kababayan under the EARP. This 2020, we will pursue the EARP throughout the year, as long as there are Filipinos who wish to come home to the Philippines and be reunited with their loved ones there,” Chargé d’Affaires Lomondot further said.
Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Vice Consul and Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Unit Head Adrian Audrey L. Baccay, and ATN Officer Elline C. Padlan lead the send-off for the first batch of the Embassy Assisted Repatriation Program at Talha Deportation Center on 6 March 2020 ( Kuwait DFA )
The 32 OFWs arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on 7 March 2020, where they were welcomed and assisted by a team from the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA OUMWA). The one-way tickets of the 32 OFWs were funded by the DFA’s P1-billion Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Fund.
The OFWs who comprise the first batch of the EARP for 2020 are mostly domestic workers who are facing absconding cases in Kuwait, or whose work visas in Kuwait expired. Three of the OFW-repatriates have medical conditions, and were assisted by the Medical Response Team of the Embassy’s ATN Unit.
The Embassy encourages all undocumented Filipinos or those with absconding cases to take advantage of the EARP. Those who are interested to apply may send a message to the Embassy on Viber through mobile phone number +965 9800 5115.
Via Kuwait DFA
