ILLEGAL Filipino migrants and workers in Malaysia and in Middle East are to be repatriated by Overseas Workers Welfare Association (Owwa) in coordination with other government agencies.
Owwa-Davao director Eduardo Bellido, during the Kapehan at Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Annex Davao on Monday, November 22, said most of the illegal Filipino settlers in Malaysia were originally from Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu who previously thought Sabah is still part of Mindanao and were initially hesitant to be repatriated.
Bellido said Owwa is already coordinating with involved agencies to help these illegal workers be sent home.
The regional office of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration-Davao will advise agencies of illegal workers in Saudi Arabia to provide plane tickets for said workers within 72 hours upon receipt of advice.
Bellido added if the agencies are unable to provide tickets within the given time, Owwa will advance the cause of repatriation.
At present, some 300 illegal workers in Saudi Arabia from Davao Region that Owwa had helped to return. Financial assistance of P26,000 was also provided for each worker.
When asked on the condition of workers in the United States of America (USA) after the presidential win of Donald Trump, Bellido was quite positive that in line with Trump's plan to strengthen President Barrack Obama's health care programs, jobs will still be available for Filipinos.
This despite Trump's policy to restrict entry of illegal migrants to the USA.
Bellido said in connection with the development of the program, USA will need more medical workers and caregivers
He added most of these workers will be Filipinos as the Philippines had been known to provide USA with medical practitioners.
Thirty five percent of total overseas Filipino workers (OFW) remittances, or almost $25 million, are coming from USA including those of illegal migrants and workers.