More than 300 Filipinos from the Gulf region returned to the Philippines on Good Friday as the government continued its repatriation efforts amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The seventh batch of repatriates departed the United Arab Emirates early Friday and arrived in Manila later in the day.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, who traveled to Dubai to assist in the repatriation effort, said the government is prepared to support returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), whether through local assistance or overseas employment opportunities.
Cacdac said around 200,000 job orders are already available for returning Filipinos who may have lost their jobs because of the crisis.
“Humigit kumulang mga 200,000 job orders ang nakaabang. Kasi may idea na rin tayo ng mga profiles nila at ng kanilang mga linya ng trabaho kaya nakahanda na rin ‘yung ating mga potential job orders na puwede nating ilatag sa kanila, mga posibleng job fairs na pwede nating idaos para sila’y makapag-explore ng ibang trabaho sa ibang bansa kung sila’y nawalan ng trabahong ganap dito sa UAE,” he added.
The DMW chief said the government is also prioritizing financial assistance for OFWs affected by reduced working hours, forced leave, or job loss.
According to Labor Attaché John Rio Bautista, head of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, more than 300 passengers were aboard flight TVR 7737, which left Abu Dhabi International Airport at around 3 a.m. and arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The repatriates were accompanied by Cacdac and medical personnel from the OFW Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Before leaving for the airport, the Filipinos gathered at the sports hall of Al Hudaibia School in Al Quasis and the nearby Philippine Consulate General, where they completed documentation. They left for Abu Dhabi at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday on board 11 buses.
Of the total number of passengers, 232 were OFWs, 69 were dependents, and 15 were stranded Filipinos.
Bautista said the returning workers came from different situations.
“Halu-halo ang mga OFWs. Mayroong finished contract, may mga work from home, forced leave at mayroong may importanteng kailangang gawin sa Pilipinas,” he said.
Each OFW initially received AED700, or around P11,500, in financial assistance, with more than AED140,000 released by the MWO. Cacdac said additional assistance will be provided once they arrive in the Philippines.
Also included among the passengers were 50 visit visa holders whose repatriation was facilitated by the Philippine Consulate General.
Consul General Ambrosio Brian Enciso III said the consulate had already helped nearly 300 stranded Filipinos on visit visas return home.
“So far, the consulate has repatriated almost 300 stranded visit visa holders. I think there will be more from both the DFA and DMW. We helped each other to ensure that more Filipinos are repatriated,” Enciso said.
He added that more repatriation flights are expected in the coming weeks as additional Filipinos continue to sign up.
During his visit to Dubai, Cacdac also met with UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar in his capacity as head of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue.
Cacdac thanked the UAE government for continuing to protect OFWs and support them during the crisis.
The meeting focused on the UAE labor market and possible assistance for Filipino workers affected by the regional conflict, including those facing reduced work hours or job displacement.
“Kung may kailangan ng tulong, adjustment sa trabaho, kawalan ng trabaho o work reduction, nakabuklod pa rin ang labor market dito at patuloy ang pag-alalay ng mga kumpanya sa ating OFWs,” Cacdac said.
