Photo shows a building engulfed by fire in Kuwait City, on June 12, 2024. Dozens of foreign workers were killed or injured in the fire, the interior ministry said. YASSER AL-ZAYYAT, AFP 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to repatriate the remains of three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who perished in a fire in southern Kuwait’s Mangaf area early Wednesday. 

“We are working on the return of the three fatalities and we’re in touch – based on the Presidential directive – with all the families of the three fatalities,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a  news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.

Fire kills 49 in Kuwait building housing foreign workers

Three of the 11 OFWs affected by the fire in a building housing for a Kuwaiti construction company died while two others are in critical condition in the hospital. 

All six others are all safe and unharmed, according to Cacdac, as they were “far away from the incident.”   

He said the President also ordered DMW to closely coordinate with the families of the two OFWs still at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Kuwaiti hospital. 

“Hopefully, they will recover very soon,” Cacdac said.   

Kuwait makes arrests over fire that killed 3 Filipinos

“As for the six na safe, we are working for their repatriation. But also, we are giving them the option whether or not they wish to continue work[ing] in Kuwait. Kasi karamihan nung safe ay on duty noong panahon na ‘yun,” he added. 

Asked when is the repatriation of the affected OFWs, Cacdac said they have yet to set the timeline, but emphasized it will be done as soon as possible, or this week since the Kuwaiti government works fast in repatriation process.