DAVAO CITY, August 5 (PIA) – More than 44,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have been served by the government in Davao Region through the daily sweeper flights from Manila and Cebu to Davao since May 2020 up to August 3, 2021.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration – Regional Welfare Office XI (OWWA-RWO XI) reported this during the One Davao Virtual Presser held yesterday.

The sweeper flights is part of the Repatriation Program that allows affected OFWs to fly back home as government’s support to this affected sector.

OWWA XI Officer-in-Charge Carmelo Elaya said the OWWA works hand in hand with the Local Government of Davao City in ensuring the provision of assistance to returning OFWs through the daily sweeper flights.

Recently, the Davao International Airport started receiving international flights onboard affected OFWs.

“Kining atuang international na mga destinations, nag sugod na ta katong June 14 ug nag abot na ug more than a thousand OFWs gikan sa lain-laing nasod. So naa na ta’y flights gikan sa Fiji Island, ug naa pud ta’y flights gikan sa Dubai, ug naa pud sa Malaysia. Kani nga mga flights gi tawag nato ni ug mga Repatriation Flights or DFA-initiated flights or commercial flights.( These international flights started last June 14 and we have catered to more than 1,000 OFWs from the different countries. Some of the flights came from Fiji Island, Dubai, and Malaysia. We call these repatriation slights or DFA-initiated flights or commercial flights.)”, said Elaya.

The official explained that the OWWA facilitates the swab testing of the arriving OFWs. They were directed to a designated facility for quarantine. Those whose swab test yielded a positive result will undergo monitoring and treatment while those with a negative result are brought to their next destination and endorsed to the LGU.

Passengers in these flights are not only Davao Region residents but these flights also carry passengers with Manila and Cebu as their original destination.

Elaya ensured COVID-19 affected OFWs who are still abroad that they will be assisted by the Philippine Embassy in their respective country for the smooth return of OFWs to the Philippines. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)