A total of 344 Filipinos, including overseas workers and their families, safely returned to the Philippines from Dubai on Friday, April 3, via the seventh government-chartered flight, which landed at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

The repatriates consisted of 228 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), 68 dependents, and 48 stranded individuals affected by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Their safe return was facilitated through a coordinated effort led by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Filipino communities in Dubai.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac personally accompanied the OFWs during their return, ensuring their welfare and immediate needs were addressed in coordination with Philippine officials abroad.

The operation was carried out under the directive of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to prioritize the safety and protection of Filipinos affected by regional tensions.

Upon arrival, a whole-of-government response team was deployed to provide medical, financial, and transportation assistance, as well as temporary shelter for the returnees.

Participating agencies included the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Quarantine, and the Philippine Air Force (PAF), ensuring a smooth and comprehensive reintegration process for the repatriates.