The government will provide chartered flights for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the conflict-hit Middle East to return safely to the Philippines, President Marcos said.
Speaking to reporters in New York, President Marcos said the Philippine government relies on host countries for OFW protection but can repatriate those wishing to return home. “For that, we have made many arrangements. We are arranging charter flights because the situation has improved somehow,” he stated.
Marcos noted that three flights carrying Filipinos have already departed from Dubai. “Now that the (United Arab) Emirates (UAE) has decided that it is safe for them to fly, it should be safe for us to charter airplanes to repatriate other Filipinos who wish to return home,” he added.
The administration plans two flights: one from Riyadh to serve those in Kuwait and Bahrain, and another from Fujairah in the UAE for those in Dubai. The government also intends to include personnel from the Department of National Defense and the Civil Aviation Authority on those flights.
A group from the UAE was expected to arrive last night, while another batch from Israel is scheduled to land tonight. The target departure from Fujairah and the UAE is March 13, expected to land in Manila on the evening of March 13 or early morning of the 14th.
More than 400 Filipinos have returned to the Philippines since the war in the Middle East began. On Tuesday night, 32 repatriates from the Middle East arrived in Manila on an Oman Air flight, including 24 OFWs (21 from Dubai and three from Oman) and eight family dependents.
Additionally, the first batch of nine repatriates from Iran has arrived in Manila, facilitated by the Philippine Embassies in Tehran and Ankara.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assured lawmakers of sufficient funds for OFW assistance and repatriation efforts. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the Aksyon Fund has P200 million ready, with another P800 million expected from the Department of Budget and Management. The Aksyon Fund provides legal, medical, repatriation, and humanitarian support for OFWs in distress.
OWWA reported its Emergency Repatriation Fund (ERF) remains largely intact, with an 18 percent utilization rate leaving a balance of P1.4 billion, according to administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan.
Cacdac reported that 4,600 forms of welfare assistance have been extended to OFWs in affected areas, including temporary accommodation, food, financial support, medical services, and psychosocial counseling. Authorities have assisted 885 OFWs with pre-departure and transit support, and 679 have received repatriation assistance, including 110 who have returned and 380 more ready to be repatriated.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide psychosocial, financial, and other aid for returning OFWs, according to spokesperson Irene Dumlao.
