QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- The Philippine government is extending assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were displaced by the clashes in Sudan as it explores job opportunities for workers along with the provision of cash assistance.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople said employers from the United States (US) and Saudi Arabia have expressed their interest in hiring OFWs fleeing Sudan.

“There are employers in the US and also in the cruise ship industry and Saudi Arabia that are very much interested and would like to see the profiles of our workers from Sudan,” Ople said in a press briefing.

A meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos in Washington revealed that US firms are planning to recruit around 75,000 Filipino seafarers over the next three to four years as shared by John Padget, president and CEO of Carnival Corp.

“We have met with the US-based employers. The prospect for employment is very bright. They truly appreciate the excellence of the Filipino workers,” Ople shared.

Migrant Workers Department will also reach out to the Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development (MHRSD) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss the possibility of securing employment opportunities for Filipino workers.

Meanwhile, DMW also assured Filipino repatriates that aside from the $200 financial assistance they will receive, the government will also provide livelihood aid of up to P100,000 to help them start anew.

With the ongoing repatriation, Ople said that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is closely monitoring government's efforts to help the OFWs and is highly concerned about their welfare.

To date, out of the 340 OFWs who are set to be repatriated to Manila from Sudan, 77 have already landed in Saudi Arabia. An additional 83 OFWs are expected to arrive in Riyadh this Thursday. (EEDC/CPSD)