Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- A total of 338 Filipino repatriates from the Middle East, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, arrived at Villamor Air Base on Sunday aboard the government&#x27;s sixth chartered flight, as authorities vowed to continue bringing home Filipinos affected by the escalating conflict in the region.Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the latest arrival was part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s directive to ensure the safety, welfare and well-being of Filipinos caught in the tensions in the Middle East.Cacdac said the March 29 flight came from the United Arab Emirates, the sixth chartered repatriation flight mounted from the Gulf state, which he described as one of the countries with the largest Filipino populations in the region.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/27/349-more-filipinos-repatriated-from-middle-east-2217">READ: 349 more Filipinos repatriated from Middle East</a></div>&quot;This will be the 6th chartered flight, so this brings us to a total of 2,600 OFWs and dependents who came home either on government-sponsored commercial tickets or government chartered flights,&quot; Cacdac said.He said many Filipinos remain employed and protected in the UAE, but some have chosen to return home because of the security situation.&quot;Malaki ang pasalamat natin sa UAE government kasi sa preteksyon na binigay nila. Marami pa ring OFWs na patuloy na nagtatrabaho sa UAE. Pero meron talaga na gustong umuwi sa ating mahal na bayan, OFWs and their families,&quot; he said.&quot;Kaya ito nga yung pinag-utos ng ating Pangulo na isaayos ang kanilang ligtas na pagpapauwi,&quot; he added.Cacdac added that every chartered repatriation flight is backed by a security assessment from the Department of National Defense, in coordination with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and defense attachés deployed in the region.He also underscored that the repatriation effort is being carried out through a whole-of-government approach involving the DMW, Department of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Health, labor attachés, welfare officers, ambassadors and consular officials.The DMW chief said government assistance begins even before repatriates board their flights, including transportation to designated meeting points, airfare support, food, and other basic needs. Upon arrival in the Philippines, they are also provided with government aid, including financial assistance from the DMW.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/25/marcos-ph-watching-waiting-hoping-for-us-israel-war-on-iran-to-end-1426">READ: Marcos: PH &#x27;watching, waiting, hoping&#x27; for US, Israel war on Iran to end</a></div>The latest flight brought the total number of OFWs and dependents repatriated to around 2,600 through either government-sponsored commercial tickets or chartered flights, according to the DMW.For its part, the Department of Health said it has deployed medical and psychosocial support teams to assist returning Filipinos.DOH Undersecretary Gloria Balboa said repatriates are screened both before departure and upon arrival to determine whether they are fit to travel and whether they require immediate medical attention.&quot;For the Department of Health, syempre iyong mga serbisyong pangkalusugan. Kasi alam naman natin, may mga karamdaman po iyong mga iba diyan. Tapos iyong mga syempre na-trauma because of what happened,&quot; Balboa said.&quot;Ina-assess iyong mga pinapasakay kung kaya nang mag-biyahe. Iyong hindi, pinagpapaliban muna. Kasi syempre, tayo ay concerned sa kanilang safety rin na pwede talaga silang ibyahe,&quot; she added.She said the DOH, through the Bureau of Quarantine, the Health Emergency Management Bureau, and the National Center for Mental Health, has stationed personnel at the airport to conduct health screening, provide first aid, and assess those who may need to be referred to hospitals.&quot;Pagdating dito, ina-assess ulit sila bago bumaba. And then, meron tayo dito na team na naka-deploy from the National Center for Mental Health through our Health Emergency Management Bureau na nagko-coordinate ng ating deployment ng teams,&quot; Balboa said.&quot;So, iyong mga may emergency needs pagbaba sa eroplano, tinitingnan nila, mga first aid binibigyan, baka may hypertension, may mga nahihilo, ganyan, binibigyan na kaagad,&quot; she added.Balboa said ambulances and hospital referral systems were also placed on standby for those needing transfer to higher-level health facilities.Beyond physical health concerns, she said mental health and psychosocial support remain a key component of the government response, especially for repatriates who may later experience emotional distress after returning home.&quot;And then, syempre ho, kailangan, very important iyong mental health psychosocial support. May counseling. With DSWD, kasama po natin sila, kasi pag-uwi sa kanilang bahay, eh baka doon mag-manifest itong mga depression or kung ano mang mental health problem meron sila,&quot; she said.Balboa added that repatriates with chronic or delayed medical conditions would also be referred to health facilities in their home communities for follow-up care. She said government hotlines for general health concerns and mental health services remain available to returning Filipinos as part of post-arrival support.

A total of 338 Filipino repatriates from the Middle East, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, arrived at Villamor Air Base on Sunday aboard the government's sixth chartered flight.

A total of 338 Filipino repatriates from the Middle East, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, arrived at Villamor Air Base on Sunday aboard the government's sixth chartered flight.

338 repatriates from Middle East arrive; gov't vows continued aid, health support

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338 repatriates from Middle East arrive; gov't vows continued aid, health support

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 29, 2026 05:58 PM PHT

Read More:

OFW

Middle East

repatriate

war

Iran

US

Israel

Department of Migrant Workers

Middle East

repatriation

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