Marcos welcomes 343 OFWS

President Marcos has welcomed another batch of repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East, as the government continues its evacuation efforts amid ongoing tensions in the region.

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A total of 343 repatriates—317 OFWs and 26 dependents from Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia—arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, March 23, aboard a chartered Philippine Airlines flight.

The President, who did not engage with the media during the event, personally greeted the returning Filipinos and oversaw the distribution of assistance, including financial aid, medical support, and psychosocial services.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said many of the repatriates had to travel by land before boarding the flight due to airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East.

"Sarado ang airspace in Bahrain and limited or restricted ang airspace sa Kuwait and Qatar. So, it was a land-crossing effort (The airspace in Bahrain is closed, and airspace in Kuwait and Qatar is limited or restricted. So, it was a land-crossing effort)," Cacdac said.