A government-chartered flight carrying 349 Filipinos from the United Arab Emirates landed at Villamor Airbase on Friday night, marking the fifth such mission to bring citizens home amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
The arrival included 222 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), 78 dependents, and 49 stranded visit-visa holders. Their return brings the total number of repatriated Filipinos from the region to 2,910, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Despite severe rainstorms and localized flooding in Dubai that disrupted local travel, Philippine officials coordinated the departure to ensure no one was left behind.
“Inagahan ko po talaga para makarating ako dito, mahirap na at baka mahuli dahil sa ulan, galing pa po ako sa Al Barsha (Dubai)," said John Curt Sosobrado, a stranded traveler who joined the flight.
Consul General Ambrosio Brian F. Enciso III said the team prepared for road disruptions to facilitate the safe movement of repatriates to the airport. While stranded tourists were processed at the Consulate General, OFWs and their families gathered at a nearby gymnasium for registration and medical screening.
Upon arrival in Pasay City, the repatriates were met by a multi-agency task force led by the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Returning citizens received immediate financial aid, medical check-ups, and transportation allowances.
For those residing in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, the government provided temporary accommodation and arranged onward domestic flights to their home provinces.
The repatriation follows a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize the safety of Filipinos in the Middle East.
Moving forward, a reintegration program involving the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will provide returnees with job fairs, skills training, and business capital.
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso A. Ver confirmed that a fourth chartered flight from Abu Dhabi is scheduled to depart on March 28.
