33 more Filipinos, including an infant, arrive home from Israel

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 17) — The latest batch of repatriates from war-torn Israel, comprising of 32 overseas Filipino workers and one infant, arrived in the Philippines on Friday.

Their return brings the total number of Filipino repatriates from Israel to 256, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

«Sa Israel ang pending natin ay 83,» said DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac, who welcomed the repatratiates at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City. «We're hoping na ma-process natin yung 83.»

[Translation: For Israel, we still have 83 pending Filipinos to be repatriated. We're hoping that we can process the 83.]

The 32 workers who arrived Friday include eight hotel workers and 24 caregivers, officials said.

Cacdac told reporters DMW is eyeing more assistance for the livelihood of the OFWs.

He said that there is still a remaining ₱725 million budget to aid the OFWs from the Israel-Hamas conflict.

«We're still hoping may mga programa pa naman tayong gagawin,» Cacdac said, adding that the DMW has so far extended ₱80 million in assistance

[Translation: We're still hoping [to use it] because we have upcoming programs.]

On Monday, 41 Filipinos from Israel comprising of 10 hotel workers, 29 caregivers, and two children also arrived in the country.

Authorities said that as of Monday, 26 Filipinos remain in Gaza.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised Crisis Alert Level 4 over Gaza, meaning repatriation is mandatory.

READ: Eighth batch of PH repatriates from Israel now home

READ: More Filipinos from Gaza en route to PH, 13 others cross Rafah border

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/11/13/-Filipinos-Gaza-cross-Rafah-border.html

In a separate statement, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has already extended about ₱5.4 million worth of aid for repatriates from Israel, Lebanon, West Bank, and Palestine.

«The Department has released some ₱5.4 million worth of assistance to these repatriates which include cash and food aid,» DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said.

DSWD said each repatriate was given ₱10,000 cash aid and another