MANILA – Dozens of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded overseas due to canceled Middle East flights have received assistance from Philippine government agencies.
The Department of Migrant Workers reported Monday that its Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong helped 132 OFWs who were scheduled to travel to Riyadh and Dubai after their flights were canceled following heightened tensions involving the United States, Iran and Israel.
Of the affected workers, 57 OFWs bound for Abu Dhabi arrived back in Manila early Monday after being stranded at Hong Kong International Airport.
Authorities provided them with meals and temporary lodging while alternative travel arrangements were being explored.
On Sunday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Patricia Yvonne Caunan of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration personally visited Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 and 3 to check on OFWs affected by the flight disruptions.
Officials said the visit aimed to ensure the workers received necessary assistance, including accommodation and timely updates on developments in the Middle East.
The Philippine government also assured affected OFWs that authorities are closely monitoring the security situation in the region.
Air travel to several Gulf destinations has been disrupted after renewed military tensions prompted some countries to impose temporary airspace restrictions.
Airlines have since canceled or rerouted flights to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and nearby destinations as a safety precaution.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, about two million Filipino workers were deployed in the Middle East as of 2025.
