Another 90 overseas Filipino workers from the United Arab Emirates landed safely at NAIA Terminal 3 on Sunday night, March 8, aboard Emirates Airline flight EK 334.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan personally received the arriving workers, alongside representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the MIA Medical Team, and the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp.
Of the 90 arrivals, 33 had taken up the government’s offer of repatriation, while the remainder were OFWs who had been stranded in Dubai due to flight disruptions.
Cacdac stressed that the government is providing full pre-repatriation assistance to all returning workers, along with financial aid as part of its post-repatriation support package. Since March 5, a total of 399 OFWs and 12 dependents have been brought home since the Middle East crisis reignited on February 28.
Caunan noted that most of the returnees remain employed and are hoping to rejoin their employers once conditions stabilize. “Maybe they’re still hoping to return to their employers once the conflict subsides,” she said. She described the group as visibly relieved, with some becoming emotional upon arrival and others appearing composed. “Many approached us asking for reintegration assistance,” she added.
Airspace closures and restrictions across the region continue to complicate evacuation efforts. Cacdac said the DMW has identified land border crossings in affected countries as alternative exit points to move Filipinos to safer locations before flying them home. “These are land crossings because most airspace and airports in these eight countries are either closed or restricted,” he said.
He also ruled out deploying a Philippine Navy ship for now, saying the presence of another country’s military vessel in an active conflict zone could create further problems. Among Sunday’s arrivals were senior citizens who are dependents of an OFW, as well as several young children, including a one-month-old infant.
