MANILA – A total of 343 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East arrived in the Philippines on Monday, with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally welcoming them as evacuation efforts continue amid regional conflict.
The returning Filipinos landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City aboard the fourth chartered flight organized by the government from Saudi Arabia.
Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the passengers included Filipinos coming from Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
Because of restricted airspace in some areas, many of the repatriates had to travel across land borders before they could reach Saudi Arabia.
Cacdac explained that about 234 of the passengers came from Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain and had to endure a land journey of roughly seven to eight hours to reach Riyadh.
From there, they boarded a Philippine Airlines charter flight bound for Manila.
He emphasized that the land crossings played a crucial role in ensuring the safe return of the workers.
The group also included around 10 to 15 dependents, among them several children.
Additional flights being arranged
The Department of Migrant Workers said more Filipinos will soon be brought home through additional evacuation flights.
Cacdac said the government is arranging the fifth and sixth charter flights from the United Arab Emirates, which hosts a large community of Filipino workers.
He also assured that funding for the repatriation program and reintegration support remains adequate.
Returning OFWs will receive government aid, including temporary accommodation, transport assistance, and financial support, along with help in traveling to their respective provinces.
The repatriation program is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard Filipinos amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
iamigo/xf
