A government-chartered flight carrying 342 passengers from Dubai, United Arab Emirates touched down at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Monday afternoon, April 13, marking the ninth repatriation flight in the ongoing effort to bring home Filipinos from the Middle East.
Of the total arrivals, 255 were overseas Filipino workers, accompanied by 87 family members. Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac was on the ground to personally receive them, alongside a whole-of-government team deployed in line with directives issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Returnees were met with an immediate assistance package drawn from multiple agencies. The DMW provided financial aid, while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration handled temporary accommodation and transportation. Medical support was extended by the Department of Health, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development offered psychosocial services to those in need. Immigration and customs processing was also facilitated on-site.
Beyond the initial relief, the DMW is positioned to lead reintegration support for the returning OFWs — a longer-term component of the government’s response to the displacement of Filipino workers across the region.
