The Philippine government is gearing up to assist approximately 370,000 Filipinos who may face deportation from the United States as Republican president-elect Donald Trump aims to deport around one million illegal immigrants annually.
From 2017 to 2020, over 3,500 Filipinos were already deported from the US, underscoring the gravity of the current situation. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac stated that various agencies are ready to provide financial, legal, and other forms of support to affected Filipinos.
According to Cacdac, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is equipped to assist overseas Filipino workers, whether documented or undocumented. The Aksyon fund and emergency repatriation fund will ensure that deported individuals can access essential services immediately.
Additionally, the DMW, in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, will offer job retooling, reskilling, and employment facilitation programs.
To provide alternative job opportunities for returnees, the DMW is exploring government-to-government agreements with countries such as Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, and Japan. Moreover, Filipinos with unpaid wages or other labor-related issues are encouraged to contact Migrant Workers’ Offices in the US for assistance.
