The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Wednesday that its central office in Mandaluyong City will be closed on April 2 and 3 for the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday holidays, but assured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) — particularly those caught in the ongoing Middle East crisis — that emergency repatriation assistance will remain available around the clock.
In a public advisory issued in compliance with Memorandum Circular No. 116, the DMW said its One Repatriation Command Center (ORCC) will stay operational throughout the holiday break to provide immediate assistance to distressed OFWs. The ORCC can be reached via its 24/7 hotline 1348 DMW-OWWA or by email at repat@dmw.gov.ph.
The DMW also confirmed that its Migrant Workers Airport Assistance Centers (MWAACs), located across all airport terminals, will remain open to serve both departing OFWs and those arriving from conflict-affected areas in the Middle East under the government’s ongoing voluntary repatriation program. DMW and OWWA teams will be on standby at airport terminals throughout the Holy Week to receive returning OFWs.
For general concerns unrelated to repatriation, the public may contact the DMW Public Assistance Desk at (02) 8722-11-44 or (02) 8722-11-55.
Repatriation efforts in full swing
The advisory comes as the Philippine government continues its active repatriation operations amid escalating regional tensions in the Middle East. To date, the government has repatriated over 2,630 OFWs, while more than 16,600 others have received on-site assistance including food, water, temporary shelter, and transport services.
The operation — informally dubbed “Air DMW” — has been running chartered and commercial flights from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and other affected Gulf states. Around 800 OFWs are still in the repatriation pipeline, according to DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, with added complications due to closed airspace in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Israel forcing authorities to explore land crossings through neighboring countries such as Egypt and Oman.
What the ORCC does
Launched in July 2022, the ORCC serves as a single point of contact for OFWs and their families needing immediate support, covering a wide range of services from repatriation assistance to legal and medical aid. Vybe by BPI The center serves as a one-stop shop for all repatriation needs, saving OFWs and their families time and resources by consolidating services that previously required visits to multiple government agencies. OWWA Member
During weekends and holidays, the ORCC’s physical office is closed, but assistance remains available 24/7 by phone and email. The Pinoy OFW The same arrangement applies during the Holy Week break.
Funding and preparedness
The repatriation program is funded primarily through the Emergency Repatriation Fund (ERF) and the ₱2 billion AKSYON fund lodged with the DMW. Officials have warned, however, that a significant surge in repatriation requests — particularly if the Middle East conflict deepens — could strain available resources and may require Congress to pass a supplemental budget.
The DMW said it continues to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of National Defense (DND), and the Philippine Navy to keep evacuation routes open and to ensure the safety of all remaining OFWs in the region.
OFWs and their families seeking repatriation assistance are urged not to wait and to reach out through the ORCC hotline or email at any time, even during the holidays.
