CHARTERED FLIGHTS READIED FOR MIDEAST OFWS

CHARTERED flights are being arranged by the government, through the Department of Migrant Workers, to repatriate Filipino Overseas Workers affected by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, according to Malacanang.

- JOCELYN REYES

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a briefing in New York on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), said the chartered flights will depart from Oman and are expected to be in Manila by March 10 and 11.

Castro said 16 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Tel Aviv in Israel and 20 OFWs from Dubai, along with nine dependents, boarded the two flights.

She said the Philippine government has also booked additional commercial flights for other OFWs and their dependents who are also coming from Dubai, while flights are still being arranged for OFWs in Riyadh.

She said the earliest departure of the commercial flights is on March 14.

The DMW said more than 100 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East are expected to arrive in the coming days, beginning Tuesday night.

In a radio interview, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said several batches of OFWs from different countries in the region are expected to fly home after they have crossed borders.

"We have land border crossings that have been going on... they are crossing into a neighboring country and are flying back home," said Cacdac.

Castro said the repatriation operations are funded through the Emergency Repatriation Fund of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

She said more than 400 OFWs, along with their dependents, have returned to the Philippines since the conflict in the Middle East began.

Castro reiterated that while repatriation activities continue, the government continues to prioritize the safety of Filipinos overseas amid ongoing tensions in the region.

MORE GOVT AID

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is coordinating closely with the DMW, OWWA, the Department of Health, and other government agencies to ensure the rapid delivery of essential services to repatriated OFWs and their families.