MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) will provide financial and medical assistance, including the repatriation of seven Filipino workers injured in attacks attributed to Houthi forces in Saudi Arabia.
In a Radyo Pilipinas interview, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac assured government assistance to the affected overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially those still in the hospital.
“Meron po tayong assistance na binibigay dun sa pitong nasugatan, napinsala. Apat po sa kanila nakalabas ng hospital pero meron tayong, bukod sa financial assistance, meron tayong ongoing assistance sa kanilang (We have assistance being provided to the seven injured, affected individuals. Four of them have been discharged from the hospital, but aside from financial assistance, we also have ongoing assistance for their) medical treatment,” he said.
“Meron po tatlo na nasa ICU. Dalawa sa kanila ay napipinto na ring ma release sa ICU and to be transferred to a regular ward. However, yung isa remains critical. Nagkaroon ng dalawang operasyon pero successful ang dalawang operasyon kaya hopefully recovery mode na rin siya. (There are three in the ICU. Two of them are about to be released from the ICU and transferred to a regular ward. However, the other one remains critical. There were two surgeries, but both were successful, so hopefully, he is now in recovery mode),” he added.
Cacdac said the workers’ return to the Philippines would depend on their medical treatment and travel clearance.
He, however, said the plan is to bring the injured OFWs home as soon as possible.
“Kailangan nila makapiling ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay (They need to be with their loved ones)” he said.
Meanwhile, Cacdac said the DMW, together with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), is also assisting Filipinos whose flights to Riyadh were canceled or diverted amid the security situation and the closure of Riyadh airport.
He said OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan’s team is providing accommodation and booking assistance to workers in Manila bound for Riyadh.
Filipinos whose flights were diverted to Jeddah are also being assisted to reach Riyadh.
