Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez underscored DSWD’s continued provision of psychosocial and livelihood support for repatriated overseas Filipinos (OFs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during the Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa National Reintegration Network (NRN) and Job Fair on Monday.

The DSWD joined the Bayanihan NRN Fair organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) held at the Quezon City Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions Center which gathered more than 500 OFs/OFWs recently repatriated from the Middle East.

In her message, Romualdez emphasized that the DSWD remains committed to ensuring immediate and holistic assistance for repatriates.

“Sa Department of Social Welfare and Development o DSWD, malinaw ang aming tungkulin—tiyakin na ang bawat repatriated OFW ay may agarang tulong at sapat na suporta sa kanilang muling pagbangon. Ito po ay direktiba sa atin ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos (At the DSWD, our responsibilities are clear — to ensure that each repatriated OFW is promptly assisted and given enough support to start anew. This is the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.),” Romualdez said.

OFW beneficiaries shared their sentiments regarding the initiative as they thanked the President for the employment opportunities provided by the job fair.

Rodel Nanadiego thanked the government for providing returning OFWs an opportunity to bounce back after being affected by the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.

“Natutuwa ako sa mga kagaya ko na OFW kasi may ganitong programa ang gobyerno. Mafi-feel mo na mayroon kang support. Napakaganda po ng ganitong programa, kasi syempre, umuwi ka, hindi mo alam kung anong gagawin mo, tapos mayroon palang ganitong suporta ang pamahalaan. Maraming salamat po (I feel happy for my fellow OFWs because the government has a program like this. You can feel that you are supported. This program is very noble, because you returned home and you don’t know what to do, and then you found out that the government has this kind of support. Thank you very much),” Nanadiego said.

For Angelica Robel, the benefits she received from various government agencies are of great help in her return to the country.

“Yung mga benefits na makukuha namin as OFW ay aming lubos na pinasasalamatan… Unang una, maraming maraming salamat po kay Pangulong Marcos sa tulong na ibinibigay niya sa mga OFW, lalo na ngayon na pinapauwi na po (ang mga galling) sa ibang bansa (We are very thankful for the benefits we receive as OFWs. We are very grateful to President Marcos for the help extended to the OFWs, especially now that we are being sent home),” Robel said.

Romualdez said the DSWD has mobilized dedicated teams to assist OFWs upon arrival.

“Ang DSWD po ay may pitong teams ng social workers na nakaabang sa airport 24/7. Hindi na po sila natutulog para tugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga OFWs (The DSWD has seven teams of social workers waiting at the airport 24/7. They forego sleep to address the needs of our OFWs),” she said.

As of March 29, a total of 1,829 repatriated OFWs have already received psychosocial first aid through the DSWD’s “OFW Salubong” assistance at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and Villamor Air Base.

In addition, financial, medical and livelihood assistance have been extended through the department’s regional field offices, with 946 OFWs expressing interest in availing of other DSWD programs.

Romualdez also mentioned the DSWD’s sustained efforts to provide comprehensive psychosocial support through its WiSupport program.

In line with the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), the DSWD also continues to strengthen its livelihood interventions for affected sectors, including repatriated OFWs.

“Ang ating Sustainable Livelihood Program ay bukas para sa ating mga kababayang OFWs upang tulungan silang makabangon at makapagsimula muli (Our sustainable livelihood program is open to our OFWs to help them recover and start anew),” Romualdez said.

As part of the activity, the DSWD, through its Crisis Intervention Program, also set up a psychosocial first aid station to provide immediate mental health and emotional support to returning OFWs.

The Bayanihan NRN Fair, organized by the Department of Migrant Workers, brought together key government agencies to provide employment opportunities, skills training, and reintegration assistance, ensuring that every returning OFW is supported, protected, and empowered to rebuild their lives back home.

Other government agencies which participated in the Bayanihan NRN Fair were the Department of Education, Department of Trade and Industry, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Health and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. (PNA)