Filipino migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates sent more than PHP78.6 billion (US$1.5 billion) home in the first nine months of this year.
According to the Philippines’ central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the UAE was the second highest source of remittances from Filipino migrant workers in the Gulf region, Gulf News reported.
The BSP said Filipinos in the UAE have sent more money than those in other Gulf countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. Saudi Arabia remains the top source of remittances for Filipino migrant workers in the Middle East.
From January to September this year, Filipinos in Saudi Arabia sent home a total of $1.6 billion, slightly higher than the transfers from the UAE.
In September, Filipinos sent a total of $21.3 billion in remittances. Land-based workers sent $16.8 billion, while sea-based workers sent $4.5 billion.