PH gov’t taps charter flights to bring OFWs home from Middle East conflict zones

National

THE Philippine government is arranging chartered flights to repatriate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from conflict-hit areas in the Middle East, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.

Addressing reporters in New York, Marcos confirmed that the government has coordinated with host countries to ensure the safety of Filipinos abroad, while preparing flights for those who wish to return home.

“We have made many arrangements, and we are arranging charter flights because the situation has improved somewhat,” Marcos said per a report by Philstar.

Three flights carrying Filipinos have already departed from Dubai, and additional flights are being arranged. One will depart from Riyadh to serve Filipinos in Kuwait and Bahrain, while another will leave Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates for those based in Dubai. Defense and aviation personnel will accompany the flights to assist repatriates.

Since tensions escalated in the Middle East, more than 400 Filipinos have returned to the Philippines.

On Tuesday night, 32 repatriates arrived in Manila aboard an Oman Air flight, including 24 OFWs and eight family dependents. The first batch of nine Filipinos from Iran also arrived following coordination by Philippine embassies in Tehran and Ankara.

The report added that Hans Leo Cacdac, Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, said the Aksyon Fund remains available to assist OFWs, covering repatriation, legal aid, medical needs, and humanitarian support. Meanwhile, Patricia Yvonne Caunan of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration assured that the Emergency Repatriation Fund has sufficient resources for any large-scale evacuation.

Authorities added that a total of 4,600 forms of welfare assistance have been provided to OFWs, including temporary accommodation, food, financial support, medical services, and psychosocial counseling.

Cacdac also said 679 OFWs have received repatriation assistance so far, with 380 more ready to return as the government finalizes charter flights and land-border evacuation options amid airspace disruptions.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will provide returning OFWs with psychosocial, financial, and other support.(Georgia Olivar, USJ-R Comm Intern)