43K OFWs sent back to provinces since May 15

As of Tuesday, June 9, a total of 43,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been sent back to their provinces since May 15 due to the threat of COVID-19.

OWWA has assisted nearly 1,000 OFWs from Bicol in returning home, providing free transportation and quarantine services.

The DFA reported repatriating 36,731 OFWs as of June 7, with around 30,000 to 35,000 more sea-based workers expected to return due to the pandemic.

As of June 5, OWWA had assisted in sending home 31,700 repatriated OFWs, mostly sailors from cruise ships and some land-based workers.