Philippine government prepares OFW repatriation amid war in Middle East

MORE than 80 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have requested repatriation amid escalating war in the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers said on Monday.

Fifty-two Filipinos in Israel have also sought voluntary return.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said mass repatriation is not yet required because Alert Level 4 has not been raised outside Syria and Yemen.

“Although the airspace in Dubai and the airports are closed, we are prepared to provide the 80 who need repatriation assistance with temporary basic needs and shelters,” he told a news briefing in Filipino. “At the appropriate time, they will be evacuated to the country.”

The Middle East is home to more than 2.4 million OFWs working in hospitals, homes, construction and other sectors. Remittances from these workers remain a key component of the Philippine economy, providing critical foreign exchange inflows.

Air transport remains a major challenge. “We are finding ways to ensure their safe return, but at this stage, air options are not yet viable, particularly in the UAE,” Mr. Cacdac said. He added that the government is coordinating with embassies, consulates and private companies to prepare land, sea and air options for repatriation if the situation worsens.

The UAE hosts the biggest concentration of Filipino labor in the region, with roughly 400,000 in Dubai alone, and about one million nationwide. Mr. Cacdac said the Philippine government is coordinating closely with the Department of National Defense and other agencies to ensure military assets, including C-130 transport aircraft, are available for evacuation if needed.

For returning OFWs, the government is preparing livelihood and reintegration support. The Department of Trade and Industry will facilitate livelihood initiatives, while recruitment agencies may help with redeployment opportunities, including transfers to other countries.

The Department of Labor and Employment will provide local employment placements via Public Employment Service Offices, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will offer reskilling and retooling programs.

Meanwhile, one OFW in Israel was killed after being struck by shrapnel from falling explosives. The victim, Mary Ann Velasquez De Vera, 32, a domestic worker from Pangasinan, could not yet be repatriated due to airspace restrictions, but her family will receive government assistance, Mr. Cacdac said.

The crisis follows coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran’s military assets over the weekend, targeting Iran’s alleged nuclear weapon program.

Iran retaliated with missile strikes against countries hosting US bases, including Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Senator Rafael T. Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Migrant Workers Committee, called on the government to extend aid to undocumented OFWs in the region.

“Whether they are undocumented or not, they should be given the necessary help from the government,” he told a news briefing. He also cited the need to help stranded tourists.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines remain on standby with C-130 transport aircraft for evacuation, Mr. Tulfo said.

The senator on Monday filed a resolution urging the Senate to investigate the potential economic and security impacts of the US-Iran war.

Senator Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel urged continuous support for repatriated OFWs, highlighting assistance for reintegration into the workforce or enterprise.

She also called on the Department of Energy to strengthen measures to secure the country’s energy supply amid projected spikes in global oil prices.

“They should also prepare a comprehensive and longer-term plan for energy security because we don’t know how long this will last,” she told a separate press conference.

The situation underscores the Philippine government’s dual challenge: protecting millions of OFWs abroad while mitigating domestic economic risks tied to energy and remittances.

Officials are also closely monitoring global developments, including potential supply chain disruptions and price fluctuations, that could affect both labor mobility and domestic economic stability. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Adrian H. Halili