A chartered flight carrying 317 Filipino nationals from across the United Arab Emirates is set to land in the Philippines on the afternoon of March 19, marking the second government-organized repatriation effort since the regional conflict began.
Of those aboard, 153 are Overseas Filipino Workers, accompanied by 114 dependents. The remaining 50 are travelers and tourists who found themselves stranded after commercial flights were repeatedly cancelled or disrupted.
The operation was jointly carried out by the Department of Migrant Workers through its offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.
Among those heading home is Mrs. Teresa Javier, who had traveled to Dubai with her husband Claro to be present for their daughter Jhayzel’s childbirth. The couple had originally booked return tickets for March 12, but their departure kept getting pushed back amid the flight disruptions. Through Jhayzel’s help, Mrs. Javier reached the Consulate General to request assistance for herself, her husband, and another grandchild who had joined them on the trip.
“Binisita ko nga lang itong anak ko, dahil manganganak. Tapos nahirapan na kami maka-uwi dahil naka-cancel ang mga flight. Heto ngang apo ko ay dapat simula na ng pasukan ulit sa Pilipinas. Mabuti naman at makakauwi na kami ngayon,” she said, cradling her newborn grandchild.
The 50 stranded tourists in this batch were all processed through the Consulate General.
Consul General Ambrosio Brian F. Enciso III reminded Filipinos still in need of help that official channels have remained active throughout the crisis. “Our lines have always been open, since day 1 of this conflict. Please contact us at our hotlines, or if the lines are busy as we attend to many callers, you may also reach us at our WhatsApp, Facebook or email addresses. We hope for your patience and understanding as we assist everyone who comes to us for help.”
He also acknowledged the role of community volunteers. “Maraming salamat sa inyong walang sawang suporta. Tunay namin kayong katuwang sa paglilingkod sa ating mga kababayang nangangailangan,” Enciso said.
On the ground, members of the Filipino Social Club, Samahang Masang Pilipino International, Inc., and Filipino Community leaders affiliated with the UAE Foodbank assisted with luggage handling and the distribution of food and medical kits during the repatriation activity.
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso A. Ver said coordinated response remains the top priority. “Our coordinated efforts in assisting our fellow kababayans to safety continues to be the key priority amid the ongoing conflict,” he said. “We call on all Filipinos to remain vigilant, prioritize their safety, and provide support in any way possible to help maintain order during this critical period. Adherence to established protocols and guidelines is vital to ensuring the well-being of everyone and the smooth execution of all ongoing measures.”
The second flight follows an earlier repatriation on March 13, which brought 442 Filipinos home from the UAE.
Since the start of the conflict, the Philippine Embassy, Consulate General, and Migrant Workers Offices have been coordinating welfare checks, hotel visits, ground transportation, and inter-agency response through the Assistance-to-Nationals section.
Filipinos requiring urgent help may reach Team Philippines through the following:
Abu Dhabi
- Philippine Embassy ATN (non-OFWs): +971 50 443 8003
- MWO ATN (OFWs): +971 56 270 9157 / +971 54 456 6103 / +971 50 368 2274 / +971 50 818 5632
- OWWA–Abu Dhabi: +971 54 557 2121
- Email: abudhabi.pe@dfa.gov.ph / mwo_abudhabi@dmw.gov.ph
Dubai and Northern Emirates
- Philippine Consulate General ATN (non-OFWs): +971 56 501 5756
- MWO ATN (OFWs): +971 56 353 5558 / +971 50 558 5536 / +971 50 652 6626
- Email: dubai.pcg@dfa.gov.ph / mwo_dubai@dmw.gov.ph
