The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has gave out over P7.5-M of assistance to some 9,288 Filipino deportees from Sabah, Malaysia from January to September, this year.
According to the DSWD, of the total number of deportees, 3,069 (33.04%) came from Tawi-Tawi; 2,211 (23%) from Sulu; 1,465 (15.77%) from Basilan; 1,587 (17.09%) from Zamboanga City, and the rest from other parts of Mindanao.
As of today, forty-one (41) deportees, of which two are minors, are still at the Processing Centers waiting for their scheduled trip to their home provinces.
The deportees are either victims of illegal recruitment or having expired passports.
Other assistance included; temporary shelters, free food, clothing, psycho-social services, medical assistance, literacy/awareness sessions, livelihood skills training and referral to LGUs and other agencies for support services. (PIA/Bohol)
