Pinoys returning from Lebanon to get P150K aid

GOVERNMENT is set to provide some P150,000 worth of cash assistance to Filipinos who would be repatriated from Lebanon amid fighting there, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac yesterday.

Cacdac said President Marcos Jr. has asked for an adjustment of the P50,000 financial assistance so the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration raised their assistance to P75,000.

That’s P150,000 financial assistance upon return,” Cacdac said in Filipino.

He said the new financial rate ‘’applied about a week ago’’ or would benefit Filipinos who started returning last week.

He said the cash aid applies to both documented and undocumented Filipinos who will return home from Lebanon.

Cacdac said aside from the financial aid, the government through the Department of Health (DOH) is also providing physical checkup and psychosocial aid for the upon returning Filipinos while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide livelihood assistance.

He said the government through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is also providing training to the repatriated Filipinos to help upgrade their skills and prepare them for potential work integration.

He said blank training vouchers are given to the repatriated or returning Filipinos, which they could use to avail themselves of the skills training they want.

Cacdac assured everyone that the government is ready in case the situation in the area gets worse, even as the Philippines continues to encourage the Filipinos in Lebanon to return to the country.

He said at least a thousand had signified interest to return and at least 45 Filipinos are now undergoing Lebanese immigration procedures and expected to be in the country within the week.

“We have ongoing repatriation efforts since last year. Around 356 have gone home from Lebanon. Just last weekend, there were 15 that came home and about a thousand have expressed interest to come home but 45 said they are ready to come so that 45 will come home soon, hopefully later this week,’’ he said.

The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon last week advised Filipinos to leave Lebanon while the airport is still open amid