A total of 299 Filipinos, including children, arrived safely in the Philippines on Thursday after being affected by the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
They were welcomed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City by Hans Leo Cacdac, Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, along with a whole-of-government team providing assistance to the returnees.
Speaking on behalf of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Cacdac expressed gratitude that the Filipinos arrived home safely and thanked Emirates and the Government of the United Arab Emirates for assisting with the special flight back to Manila.
According to Dave Gomez, Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office, the passenger list included both repatriated Filipinos and other affected travelers who decided to return home due to the ongoing regional tensions.
The Department of Migrant Workers reported that 23 of the 299 returnees are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), including two children.
Upon arrival, the returnees received government assistance from several agencies:
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The DMW provided immediate financial assistance through the AKSYON Fund
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The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration arranged accommodation and transportation
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The Department of Health provided medical assistance
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The Department of Social Welfare and Development offered psychosocial support to help affected OFWs cope with stress caused by the conflict
The group included OFWs whose employers advised them to return home, workers who had completed their contracts, and others who chose to return permanently for personal reasons.
Malacañang earlier assured that the government continues to prepare contingency measures to assist Filipinos abroad, especially OFWs, if tensions in the region escalate further.
Source: Philippine News Agency
