By Ferdinand G. Patinio
MANILA, April 17 (PNA) –The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has reactivated its Crisis Monitoring and Response Team (CMRT) to assist Filipino workers overseas who were displaced by worsening armed-conflict in Yemen.
OWWA Administrator Rebecca Calzado said the CMRT’s reactivation aimed to closely monitor the status of evacuees, border-crossers and Filipinos staying at holding areas, and to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Missions in the repatriation of affected Filipino workers in the area.
At the same time, the OWWA chief directed the committee to identify the needs and carry out the usual services of Repatriation Assistance Division (RAD) for repatriated workers upon arrival at the airport, and provide regular and timely advisories to the public as well as maintain records of repatriated workers.
Some 342 Filipino migrant workers from Yemen were repatriated with necessary airport assistance, which included a special lane for the processing of immigration papers of repatriates, provided temporary shelter and transport services and fares for their on-ward travel to their respective provinces.
The CMRT is a special committee of OWWA that is reactivated in times of political unrest in countries where there are affected Filipino migrant workers.
The Alert Level in Yemen was raised to 4 due to the unstable situation in the said country.
OWWA is also part of the DOLE- Assist WELL which caters to the Welfare, Employment, Livelihood and Legal needs of the displaced workers.(PNA)