MANILA - A total of 10 distressed overseas Filipino migrant workers from Syria are scheduled to arrive Friday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport with the help of the business sector.

Baina Ayob, Norhamina Usman, Zacaria Dumato, Jocelyn Aradanas, Zeinna Paquinto, Armela Abaez, Aissah Mustapha, Kasmera Guimba, Normina Zacaria, and Annalyn Villa are expected to arrive at 3:30 p.m. on board Qatar Airways flight QR 646V.

Vice President and Presidential Adviser on OFW Noli De Castro said that local businessmen helped repatriate the distressed Pinoy workers.

"With the support of the business sector, 10 of our troubled countrymen in Damascus can now join their families and start a new life," De Castro said in a press statement.

Among the businessmen who assisted the OFWs by shouldering their return tickets were Willy Uy of the Phinma Property Holdings Corp., Willy Tan of Hausland Development Corp., Delfin Lee of the Globe Asiatic Realty Holdings Corp., and Linda Tan of the Organization of the Socialized Housing Developers.

"It is the kindness and selflessness of people like you that continue to sustain our hope for a better future for our country," De Castro said.

De Castro earlier called on the private sector particularly businessmen to join in the national effort to save OFWs in foreign lands.

First to respond was the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCI) which helped in the repatriation of 46 distressed women from the Middle East last June.