MANILA, Philippines — Another batch of 41 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have arrived from strife-torn Syria after being flown home by the Philippine government.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said she expects more Filipinos to arrive from Syria in the next few days.

Dimzon said she sees more Filipinos reporting to the Philippine Embassy in Damascus for repatriation.

She said that OWWA’s teams continue to call on the relatives of OFWs to call them through the Libreng Tawag program to persuade them to leave Syria as the violence there continues to worsen.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised its alert level for Syria to 4, which requires mandatory repatriation.

Dimzon said OWWA’s facilities in Pasay City and all OWWA regional offices are open to assist family members of OFWs in Syria in communicating with the spouses, children, or relatives whose whereabouts or condition they would like to ascertain.

She said the 41 OFWs who arrived were the second batch this week. The first group of 35 arrived last Wednesday and immediately got assistance from OWWA in taking advantage of the government’s reintegration program.

Dimzon said the release of the workers from their employers in Syria was made possible by the negotiating team of the government, composed of officials from DFA, OWWA, and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

She said that exit clearances were granted to the workers after the employers agreed to allow them to leave the country.

The OWWA Repatriation Team welcomed the returning OFWs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and helped them through immigration and customs.

The group was offered temporary shelter at the OWWA Halfway Home and will be assisted with their domestic transportation needs.

Dimzon said that an OWWA counseling team was also present at the NAIA to provide stress debriefing.

The OFWs were also briefed on the reintegration options, including business entrepreneurship under the P2-billion OFW reintegration program. Starter kits under the livelihood assistance program to start micro businesses will be offered.