00:00 The second batch of OFWs that were evacuated from the Gulos to Israel has returned safely to the Philippines.
00:07 Financial assistance and other assistance were immediately received by the government.
00:12 This is the story of Rod Lagusan.
00:14 This was a terrible fear.
00:20 He was the one who was sent to Elmer, who returned to the Philippines following the attack of Hamas in Israel.
00:25 He felt that his relatives were not safe.
00:28 At that time, I was afraid that I might not be able to return home.
00:34 Because of what was happening, the terrorists, whoever they saw, they would shoot.
00:41 They were not chosen.
00:43 I also talked to my wife, who heard that she was afraid.
00:49 That's why my children were sent home.
00:52 They told me to go home.
00:54 This was the first time he worked in a foreign country.
00:57 He has been in Israel as a caregiver for two years.
01:01 He even finished his contract, which he hoped would last for two more years.
01:06 When asked if he would return to Israel, he said he could not make a decision yet.
01:11 The story of Christina, who is an OFW, immediately gave birth to a child when she heard that she was going to return to the Philippines.
01:19 I also want to be with my family.
01:24 When I found out that there was a repatriation, I went to the embassy to get repatriated.
01:34 We can't imagine what will happen to us because we are afraid.
01:42 He plans to start a business now that he is here in the country.
01:45 Elmer and Christina are among the second batch of overseas Filipino workers who fled from Israel.
01:52 They fled to Naia Terminal 3 yesterday.
01:54 According to the Department of Migrant Workers, there are eight of them, while there are ten women.
01:59 There are 14 caregivers and four hotel workers.
02:04 Ten of them have already finished their contract, while eight of them were told not to finish it.
02:09 Undersecretary Maria Antoinette Velasco-Aliones added that eight of the repatriated OFWs need medical attention
02:17 because they have heart disease or high blood pressure.
02:20 Just like a female senior citizen OFW who was with the first batch that arrived on Wednesday but was left in Abu Dhabi
02:28 because of high blood pressure and heart disease.
02:31 She was given travel clearance, so she was counted in the second batch.
02:35 The priority now is to provide psychological first aid.
02:41 Because you can see in their eyes that they are still traumatized.
02:45 That's also what they said as the primary reason why they want to go home.
02:50 Because they are so afraid, they have fear in their hearts that they are not safe in Israel.
02:56 120,000 pesos were received from each repatriated OFW.
03:01 50,000 pesos were received from DMW and OWA, while 20,000 pesos from DSWD.
03:08 There are vouchers that TESDA gave for training to those who want to open a business.
03:13 The challenge that our office is facing now is the regular available flights from Tel Aviv.
03:21 That's what our colleagues in OWA and DMW in Israel are working on.
03:26 That we can get regular flights for the next repatriations.
03:32 According to DMW, many Filipinos showed interest in returning to the Philippines.
03:39 of the Philippines.
03:40 Rod Laguzed, for the nation.
