The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it had repatriated 7,880 overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from January to November 2022.

The agency reported that 57.67 percent of the workers are from the Middle East, 942 OFWs and distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are from Kuwait, and 70 are from Sri Lanka.

Additionally, DFA issued 3,589,620 passports from January to October this year and opened six temporary off-site passport services facilities.

As of November 2022, the DFA issued 55,574 visas and 551,635 Apostille certificates.

To recall, President Marcos said the coordination between the DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) would be strengthened to address the needs of OFWs.

Marcos likewise recognized the valuable contribution of OFWs, especially when the country’s economy struggled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You provided a much-needed boost to the pandemic-stricken economy. Nakakapagpondo tayo ng mga social programs na tumutulong sa mga mahihirap at saka ‘yung pinaka nangangailangan ng tulong na pamilya sa Pilipinas," said Marcos Jr. 

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from April to September 2021 was estimated at 1.83 million.

Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs) comprised 96.4 percent or 1.76 million of the total OFWs during the said period.