PHILIPPINES: The Philippine government has begun flying home overseas Filipino workers from several Middle East locations as regional tensions continue to affect travel and security conditions.
Malacañang confirmed that repatriation efforts are underway through chartered and commercial flights arranged by the Department of Migrant Workers. The flights are intended for Filipinos who have requested assistance in returning to the Philippines during the ongoing crisis.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro shared the update during a media interview in New York.
She said several groups of Filipinos are already in transit and expected to arrive in Manila within days.
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OFWs Travel Across Borders to Reach Flights
One group includes 16 overseas Filipino workers from Tel Aviv in Israel. According to Castro, they traveled by land to the southern Israeli city of Eilat, which borders Egypt.
From there, they crossed the Taba border into Egypt and proceeded to Cairo, where they boarded a flight route from Cairo to Muscat before heading to Manila.
Their flight is expected to arrive in the Philippines on March 11 at around 9:30 p.m.
Another group consists of 20 OFWs and nine dependents who traveled from Dubai to Oman through the Khatmat Malaha border crossing in northern Oman.
After entering Oman, the group continued to Muscat to board a flight to Manila. Their arrival in the Philippines was scheduled for March 10 at about 9:30 p.m.
Repatriation Flights Also Arranged From UAE and Saudi Arabia
Aside from chartered flights, the Philippine government also arranged commercial flights for Filipinos leaving the United Arab Emirates.
Castro said some OFWs and their dependents departing from Dubai were booked on Emirates Airlines flights bound for Manila.
Meanwhile, repatriation plans are also underway in Saudi Arabia. In Riyadh, the Department of Migrant Workers is preparing additional flights for Filipino nationals seeking to return home, with the earliest departure scheduled for March 14.
Over 400 Filipinos Already Repatriated
The repatriation effort is funded through the Emergency Repatriation Fund of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, which operates under the Department of Migrant Workers.
Officials said more than 400 Filipinos have already returned to the Philippines since tensions in parts of the Middle East escalated.
The government continues to monitor the situation closely while coordinating with Philippine embassies and migrant worker offices in the region.
Castro said protecting the safety and welfare of Filipinos abroad remains the government’s top priority as developments in the region continue to unfold.
Officials also advised Filipinos overseas to stay in contact with Philippine diplomatic missions and follow official advisories while the situation remains fluid.