In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to help returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the Middle East crisis, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended more than PHP1.1 million worth of livelihood aid to the affected sector.

The assistance was provided under the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which seeks to improve socio-economic status by helping OFWs access the necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving, sustainable, and resilient sources of income.

“Upang matulungan na magsimulang muli ang mga repatriated and stranded OFWs mula sa Middle East, ang DSWD ay nagbigay ng kabuuang PHP1,135,000 worth of livelihood grants sa 57 na bumalik na OFWs ating bansa (To help our repatriated and stranded OFWs from the Middle East start anew, the DSWD has provided a total of Php1,135,000 worth of livelihood grants to 57 OFWs who returned to our country),” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release on Monday.

Aside from the SLP, the DSWD also extended financial assistance worth over PHP9.6 million to 1,818 OFWs, while one OFW in crisis received PHP300,000 worth of medical aid.

To date, the DSWD has provided 6,588 services, totaling over PHP11 million in assistance, to 4,398 returning OFWs nationwide.

These include psychosocial first aid, psychosocial assistance, financial assistance, medical assistance, and livelihood assistance from SLP.

“Patuloy na nagbibigay ng tulong ang departamento para masiguro na makaka-access ang mga OFWs at kanilang pamilya sa mga programa at serbisyo ng gobyerno para maibsan ang hirap na naranasan nila dahil sa nangyaring kaguluhan sa (The Department continues to provide assistance to ensure that the OFWs and their families could have access to government programs and services to ease the hardship they are experiencing because of the ongoing crisis in the) Middle East,” Dumlao said.

She said the SLP is always open to returning OFWs, and field offices are coordinating with the OFWs and their families who are interested to avail of the program.

She said the DSWD remains committed to ensuring that OFWs receive the essential support required, in line with the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) framework of the Marcos administration.

Under Executive Order No. 11 series of 2026, President Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency and authorized the UPLIFT framework as the whole-of-government approach to respond to the needs of the sectors affected the most by the Middle East conflict. (PNA)