Overseas Filipino Workers in Hong Kong who bought fake tickets from a travel agency named PEYA Travel will now be able to spend Christmas with their loved ones in the Philippines. Malacañang agreed to shoulder the roundtrip travel fares of the affected Filipino workers.

Roundtrip Fare Accommodation for the Affected OFWs

According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment will split the cost of roundtrip air travel of the affected OFWs.

Our kababayans in Hong Kong and other parts of the world have a very special place in President Duterte’s heart and it is just right that we make their Christmas wishes come true by doing what we can to bring them home.

The Philippine Air Force is also on standby in case air assets would have to be flown to carry the workers home by ferry from Hong Kong. The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong will also file criminal charges against PEYA Travel, the Filipino-owned travel agency that defrauded the OFWs.

Help From Big Airlines

Philippine Airlines and Cathay Pacific have also offered their help in giving discounted airfare and will dispatch bigger aircraft to accommodate the stranded OFWs to ensure that they will be home before Christmas.

Budget airline Cebu Pacific also offered 50 complimentary return tickets for the affected OFWs who are mostly household service workers.

There are approximately 160 victims who approached the Consulate to seek assistance but the Consulate is expecting more number of victims.

The travel agency also submitted their written explanation. According to them, they are committed to refunding the customers. The travel agency also attributed the concern to their booking system.

We are glad to know that our fellow Kababayans will still be able to go home to their loved ones. Kudos to the government and the airlines who acted as one in helping our OFWs.