Over 60 more remains of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia are scheduled to be repatriated this weekend, an official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Thursday.

“There is a schedule on July 19 and we are looking at about 66 human remains, (both) Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and non-Covid-19 cases that will be repatriated to the country,” Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said in a Laging Handa briefing.

With the scheduled repatriation of the second batch of dead OFWs, the number of bodies that are needed to be brought home is now only 159 from 274.

Tutay added that the initiative of bringing home the bodies of OFWs will continue in partnership with other government agencies and the private sector.

“The DOLE together with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in coordination with other government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Local Interior Government, Bureau of Quarantine, embassies, Department of Health and Philippine Airlines for their assistance for us to be able to bring home the remains,” she said.

On July 10, an initial batch of 49 bodies repatriated from Saudi Arabia arrived in the country.

Government officials welcomed and honored them at a solemn ceremony held at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

Of the first batch of the bodies that were brought home, 20 OFWs died of Covid-19 while 29 have died of other causes. (PNA)