A veteran food service worker who spent two decades serving U.S. Embassy personnel and NATO forces in Iraq is among the repatriates now navigating the Philippine government’s expanding support network following the latest wave of conflict-driven evacuations from the Middle East.
Zalde, who worked alongside fellow repatriate Dexter in catering to American military and diplomatic staff in Iraq, said the U.S. Embassy facilitated their evacuation as tensions in the region worsened. Both workers had been employed in senior food service capacities before their sudden departure.
The Department of Migrant Workers, working with the Quezon City local government and more than 20 national agencies, has mounted a broad reintegration effort that begins at the airport and extends into livelihood and employment support. Cash assistance of P10,000 was distributed to returnees upon landing.
“Bale may na-receive naman po kaming financial assistance from DMW when we landed diyan sa airport. Binigyan po kami ng cash na ten thousand pesos po,” Zalde confirmed.
One of the program’s more notable components is access to a P2-billion lending facility for OFWs looking to establish businesses at home. Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Maria Christina Roque said the fund, coursed through SB Corporation, allows qualified applicants to borrow up to P5 million without putting up collateral.
“Lahat po ng mga OFW na gusto pong magnegosyo, pwede po kayong umutang sa SB Corporation… up to five million pesos po ay walang kolateral,” Roque said.
Employment fairs under the National Reintegration Network have drawn returnees looking for immediate job leads. Dexter said the format offers a practical edge over independent job hunting.
“Pag nandito kasi, madali mong makita at tsaka may mga nag-a-assist sa iyo. ‘Yun ang advantage pagka ganitong nasa job fair,” he said.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac framed the reintegration effort as an active commitment rather than a stopgap, telling returnees the government intends to help them rebuild, not merely process their arrival.
“Nandito tayo sa ating mahal na bayan kasama po ninyo ang inyong mga pamilya, mga mahal sa buhay. Hindi po kayo stranded, kundi bibigyan namin ng serbisyo sa ating mahal na bayan para kayo’y makapagsimula muli,” Cacdac said.
Health services are also being made available alongside the financial and employment components of the program. Zalde, reflecting on more than 20 years in the Iraq labor market, said the swift government response had softened what would otherwise have been an abrupt and difficult return.
“Nagwo-work po ako sa food service industry. Nagse-serve po kami ng food sa mga US Embassy personnel, US military, and NATO,” he said of his work before the evacuation.
