Marcos: Two chartered flights set for OFW repatriation from Middle East

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MANILA, Philippines — The government is arranging two chartered flights for affected overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East who wish to return home, with some expected to arrive in the Philippines by the end of the week, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Tuesday (New York time).

Despite ongoing tensions among the United States, Israel and Iran, Marcos said that the easing of airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East has allowed three Emirates-operated commercial flights to carry OFWs from Dubai directly to Manila. 

"But now that the Emirates has decided that it is safe enough for them to fly, and it should be safe enough also for us to charter airplanes na makapa – para maisakay ‘yung ibang Pilipino na nais umuwi," he said at a press conference on March 10. 

(But now that Emirates has decided it is safe enough for them to fly, and it should also be safe enough also for us to charter planes to bring home other Filipinos who wish to return.)

One chartered flight will originate from Riyadh to bring home Filipinos in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, while a second flight from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates will repatriate OFWs from Dubai.

Marcos said the second chartered flight is scheduled to depart on March 13 and is expected to arrive in Manila either by the evening of the same day or the morning of March 14.

He added that Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac will be flying to Dubai to assess the situation in the Middle East and provide updates to the Philippine government regarding displaced OFWs.

Both the Department of National Defense and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will also assist the government in repatriating affected and distressed OFWs, the president said.

Sixteen OFWs from Israel who crossed land borders into Egypt are expected to arrive in Manila by the evening of March 11 (Philippine time) through a chartered flight arranged by the DMW, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Monday (New York time).

Another group composed of 20 OFWs from Dubai and nine dependents who traveled to Oman through a land border crossing also flew to Manila and arrived on the evening of March 10, she added.

Over 400 Filipinos have returned to the Philippines since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 27, a conflict that has left hundreds dead or displaced, and disrupted oil supply, driving local fuel prices up.