The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is studying the possibility of using land travel as a primary option for the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said during a press briefing in Mandaluyong that the proposal is among the contingency measures being considered while several airspaces remain closed and the Strait of Hormuz remains inaccessible due to security risks. He declined to provide operational details for security reasons but noted that the agency will coordinate closely with the Department of National Defense (DND) if the plan is activated.

Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured that it is ready to deploy its expertise and assets once a go-signal is issued for the evacuation of Filipinos stranded in conflict areas.

Based on joint data released by the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), repatriation requests have reached 1,189 from OFWs in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Lebanon. These are part of more than 1,400 Filipinos who have sought assistance to return home, as earlier reported by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Meanwhile, around 1,800 OFWs on the ground have been assisted by the DMW and Philippine embassies, while 236 stranded Filipino workers have received support at major transport hubs in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manchester, Rome, and Ethiopia.

The DMW said it continues to monitor developments in the region and is coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure the safe and orderly return of affected Filipinos.