Government shelters at major airports are housing hundreds of overseas Filipino workers after flight disruptions linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East left them unable to depart.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said a total of 1,033 Filipinos bound for Middle Eastern destinations were affected by cancellations both in the Philippines and overseas. At Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals 1 and 3, 768 workers were placed in temporary accommodation arranged by OWWA, according to Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan. She noted during a briefing in Malacañang that many of those waiting to rebook flights come from the Visayas and Mindanao.
Outside Metro Manila, close to 100 workers were recorded as stranded at Clark International Airport in Pampanga as of Sunday, March 1. In Hong Kong, 132 Filipinos scheduled to fly to Dubai and Riyadh were unable to proceed with their trips, while 33 others encountered similar setbacks in Singapore.
Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said assistance was extended not only to workers but also to other Filipinos caught in the travel disruptions, including tourists.
“As long as they’re Filipinos, we will help them. Let’s help each other — all hands of deck. We are under a one-country team,” he said.
Cacdac also reported that authorities have confirmed no Filipino casualties linked to the airstrikes in Iran. He said there are about 80 Filipinos in Iran, most of whom are married to Iranian nationals.
Embassies in Gulf countries and Israel have been tapped to ensure food, shelter, and transportation for those seeking assistance. Temporary facilities include sites operated by OWWA and venues arranged by host governments. In Dubai, around 20 Filipinos have been housed in such accommodations.
Officials said exit routes and relocation areas are already mapped out should evacuations become necessary. Coordination is underway with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of National Defense, host governments, and private sector partners to secure possible land, sea, or air transport.
While no large-scale evacuation has been launched because conditions have not reached Alert Level 4, agencies said preparations are in place for Filipinos who may request to leave. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed concerned offices to work closely together to safeguard the welfare and security of overseas Filipinos.
