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Rhodina Villanueva - The Philippine Star
April 7, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — About half of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) repatriated due to the ongoing Middle East crisis intend to return abroad once conditions in the region stabilize, according to the Department of Migrant Workers.
Citing an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) survey, DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac yesterday said half of returning OFWs plan to resume work with their employers when it is safe to do so.
“Many of our returning OFWs, just about 50 percent, still plan to go back (to work abroad)… Why? Because they have valid employment visas. There is no problem with that. It only means they were able to properly ask permission from their employers to go home,” Cacdac said during the “Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa: A National Reintegration Fair” held yesterday in Quezon City.
Cacdac noted that the conflict did not strain relations between OFWs and their employers.
“The OFWs and their employers have a very good relationship, that is why it is just right for them to go back there and work,” he said.
The other half of repatriated OFWs, meanwhile, intend to stay in the country, either to start their own business or seek local employment.
“We at the Department of Migrant Workers are ready for that. We have at least 200,000 job orders for work abroad,” Cacdac said.
He added that the agency continues to organize both in-person and virtual job fairs to assist displaced workers.
“To our OFWs, you are not stranded. Together with your families and loved ones, we will give you services so that you can start again here in the country,” he said.
The DMW said the reintegration fair aims to assist around 500 repatriated OFWs by providing access to employment opportunities, financial aid, psychosocial support, skills development and other recovery programs.
SPIMS program
As part of the government’s reintegration efforts, the Department of Education (DepEd) is offering employment pathways for returning OFWs who wish to transition into teaching in public schools.
Through the “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” (SPIMS) program, DepEd seeks to provide immediate job opportunities and educational support for repatriated workers and their families.
According to the DMW, the program has assisted 8,047 teachers through employment and financial support, while 521 others benefited from online refresher courses.
Since 2014, SPIMS has helped 11,056 licensed teachers shift from overseas work to the country’s public school system.
“Under the leadership of President Marcos, we would not let you face these challenges alone. We make the process for SPIMS simpler and faster,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
At the job fair, DepEd also offered on-site registration for Accreditation and Equivalency tests for OFWs seeking further education or training, as well as the Philippine Educational Placement Test for their children.
The agency likewise facilitated access to the senior high school voucher program for students enrolled in private schools, the Teacher Education Scholarship Program with 720 slots for qualified OFW family members and review incentive packages for returning OFWs preparing for the licensure examination for teachers.
DepEd also showcased “Balik Turo: A Hero’s Journey Home,” featuring stories of former OFWs now teaching in public schools.
About 15 recruitment agencies and 12 companies participated in the event, offering roughly 8,000 local and overseas job opportunities.
The government, through the DMW and OWWA, has so far repatriated 4,241 OFWs from the Middle East via commercial and chartered flights. — Evelyn Macairan
