The Department of Social Welfare and Development- Zamboanga Peninsula (DSWD-9) and partner agencies provided assistance to 844 returning Filipinos from Sabah upon their arrival at the local port on Saturday.

DSWD-9 Director Riduan Hadjimuddin said the group was comprised of 518 adult males, 210 adult females, 59 male children and 57 female children.

The returning Filipinos arrived around 3 a.m. aboard a commercial vessel from Malaysia route via Sandakan City in Sabah.

“Upon arrival at the port, they were immediately provided hot meals and essential personal items by DSWD personnel,” Hadjimuddin said in a statement.

He said the returnees will temporarily stay at the DSWD Processing Center for Displaced Persons in Barangay Talon-Talon, where they will be profiled and assessed while the agency arranges their travel to their hometowns.

Most of the returning Filipinos are from Tawi-Tawi province, while the rest are from other parts of the region.

The batch of returnees is the first to return home this year.

Hadjimuddin said they will continue providing immediate assistance and protective services to returning Filipinos, particularly those in vulnerable situations. (PNA)