Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Some Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have backpedalled on their decision to be repatriated having found jobs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members of the Philippine Press WhatsApp Group learnt of this on Sunday morning when Consul General of Dubai and the Northern Emirates Paul Raymund Cortes shared with them the CNN Philippines news on the Aug.9 Duterte approval of the additional Php5 billion (Dhs374,229,105.50/$101,880,950.00) novel coronavirus (COVID19) evacuation and aid packages for distressed overseas Filipinos worldwide.

The news quoted Philippine Labour and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III: “I have directed our Polos (Philippine Overseas Labour Offices) to accelerate the processing of the assistance so that a greater number of our OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) will benefit soonest from the aid coming from our government.”

There are 34 Polos around the globe operating under Manila’s Department of Labour and Employment (DoLE) with 24 in Asia including 13 in the Middle East, seven in Europe and three in the Americas.

The government-owned Philippine News Agency quoted Bello: “Because the president loves our modern-day heroes, he is providing them with additional funds for the repatriation and assistance to our OFWs.”

From Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), Cambridge for Family Counselling and Training Centre clinical psychologist Prof. Mardy Dizon said: “The initiative can have a positive implication as it helps lessen the trauma encountered (by the affected and impacted).”

Rights Corridor managing director Froilan Malit Jr. hailed the decision of Duterte considering the “worsening economic conditions in most destination countries.”

He claimed the additional funding “is an important step in upholding the protection of OFWs.”

He expressed hope that the Duterte Administration moves to study and implement more realistic long-term employment opportunities both in the Philippines and in the labour-receiving countries which include the continuous upscaling of knowledge and skills of all OFWs.

He said: “The administration should mobilise our government and academic-run research institutions to better understand the current and future structure of Philippine migration governance and diplomacy approach.”

On Sunday morning, Cortes clarified that of the 8,000 repatriation applicants from Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, RAK, and Fujairah about a fortnight back, “Many have double submissions. Some have gone home. Some decided to stay on. Some are already employed.

“I am not sure though (at which sector or industry they have found work) because they would only tell us that they have found employment. They request that they be stricken off the list,” he continued, when Gulf Today further enquired.

At 12:33pm, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai which collaborate with the Polos in their respective jurisdictions released a “Joint Statement” regarding the newly-approved Php5 billion COVID-19 funding for impacted OFWs.

“The Overseas Filipino Communities around the world welcome this development as it highlights the Philippine Government’s commitment to assist all Filipinos in a crisis such as this pandemic. The Embassy and the Consulate await further guidelines and instructions from the (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the DoLE in this regard.”

Since May 15, a total of 129,491 OFWs from across the globe financially and job-impacted by COVID-19 have returned to their home country with approximately a little over 28,000 from the UAE.

Bello, some time in May, had requested Manila’s Department of Budget and Management for additional Php2.5 billion (Dhs187,114,552.00/$50,940,475.00) for the depleting COVID-19 resources for distressed OFWs. It is for the Php10,000.00 (Dhs730.00/$200.00) one-time financial assistance to the terminated and those on “No Work-No Pay” status. It is for the post-medication requirements of COVID-19 survivors who have regularly updated their bi-annual membership fees at the DoLE-affiliated Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. It is also for the hotel accommodation and the COVID-19 tests of the repatriates upon arrival in the Philippines.