The Philippines has brought home nearly 6,000 nationals from conflict-affected areas in the Middle East, with the ninth government-chartered flight touching down Monday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
The latest flight from Dubai carried 342 passengers — 255 overseas Filipino workers and 87 of their dependents. The countries of origin of those aboard have not yet been disclosed by the Department of Migrant Workers.
DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac told the Senate Protect committee that government-funded repatriations from March 5 to April 13 reached 5,404 — a count that excludes Monday’s ninth flight. “We’ve had an eighth chartered, and the ninth coming in this afternoon… There are also commercial flights accompanying. So around 5,400 were repatriated,” he said.
Including the new arrivals and other figures, the total repatriation count stands at 5,938, comprising both OFWs and their dependents.
The UAE accounted for the largest share of repatriates at 2,275 — split between Dubai, which sent back 973 workers and 302 dependents, and Abu Dhabi, which accounted for 559 workers and 441 dependents. Saudi Arabia followed with 891 repatriates from three cities: Riyadh (683 OFWs and one dependent), Al Khobar (133 OFWs), and Jeddah (74 OFWs). Kuwait contributed 832 repatriates, with 763 classified as workers and 69 as dependents.
Among the remaining countries, Qatar sent back 470 OFWs and 230 dependents, while Bahrain accounted for 399 workers and 116 dependents. Smaller numbers came from Israel (86 OFWs, four dependents), Lebanon (66 OFWs), and Oman (28 OFWs, seven dependents). Of the 5,404 government-funded repatriates, 4,234 were OFWs and 1,170 were dependents.
Arrivals from Monday’s flight were met with a multi-agency assistance package. The DMW provided financial aid, OWWA handled temporary accommodation and transport, the Department of Health extended medical services, and the DSWD offered psychosocial support. Immigration and customs processing was also conducted on-site. Reintegration support is to follow.
