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Ninety-seven overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and two dependents from Kuwait arrive in the Philippines on March 31. Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Jekki Pascual

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774944389199HEuP_uibAAAS0Me.jfif" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Ninety-seven overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and two dependents from Kuwait arrive in the Philippines on March 31. Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ninety-seven overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and two dependents from Kuwait arrive in the Philippines on March 31. <em>Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Ninety-seven overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and two dependents from Kuwait have arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, March 31, bringing the total number of repatriated OFWs to 2,900 amid the conflict in the Middle East. </p><p>Hundreds more are scheduled to arrive this week.</p><p>Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Caunan said the Filipinos had to be brought via land trip to Dammam, Saudi Arabia because it was the nearest airport with available flights. The Philippine government paid for all the costs of travel and other assistance.</p><p>&quot;We sought clearance from the Kuwait government para maka exit sila. Pangalawa, kumuha tayo ng transit visa para makatawid from Kuwait to Saudi Arabia,&quot; Caunan said.</p><p>About 400 OFWs from Kuwait will arrive this week and another 400 are expected next week. Meanwhile, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that 15 OFWs from Israel and 10 from Lebanon are set to return on Wednesday, while 193 are expected on Thursday. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/29/338-repatriates-from-middle-east-arrive-gov-t-vows-continued-aid-health-support-1758">338 repatriates from Middle East arrive; gov&#x27;t vows continued aid, health support</a></div><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">349 more Filipinos repatriated from Middle East</a></div><p>The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) expects the total number of repatriates to reach 3,068 by April 2.</p><p>&quot;The challenges continue to be yung for the countries na sarado or restricted ang airspace like Kuwait or Bahrain, then we need to undertake land crossings,&quot; said Cacdac. &quot;That is a bigger challenge than of course just simply bringing somebody like in UAE, we bring them together and bring them to the airport, handle their luggages, etc.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s a lot easier kung meeting point to the airport. Pero kung meeting point to bus station and to travel eight to ten hours by land to the fly-out point, which is Saudi Arabia, that&#x27;s a little more challenging,&quot; he added.</p><p>All repatriated Filipinos will also be transported to their home provinces for free.</p><p>&quot;Visayas, Mindanao, binibilhan natin ng mga air tickets. Kung kakailanganin ng temporary hotel accommodation, binibigyan natin. And then sa Luzon, Metro Manila, binibigyan rin natin transportation assistance,&quot; said Caunan.</p><p>Aside from the flights, the Philippine government is also giving financial assistance to repatriated workers, as well as employment assistance and training programs. Repatriated OFWs have so far arrived from Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Israel, and Iran.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/21/what-assistance-does-government-provide-to-repatriated-ofws-1253">What assistance does government provide to repatriated OFWs?</a></div><p>Cacdac said they are also providing groceries, food vouchers, and other help for OFWs who remain in the Middle East.</p><p>He assured that they still have enough budget for repatriation and response to the conflict. The DMW has a P2 billion action fund for 2026.</p><p>&quot;So far, the budget that we have works. But having said that, moving forward for the future, then we already are sitting down as we have been assigned, tasked by the President with the DBM, with the Office of the Executive Secretary to iron out our budget for the coming months, all throughout the year in fact,&quot; said Cacdac.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QtY01qg5930?si=LiQNvigU48QPw1wd" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Ninety-seven overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and two dependents from Kuwait have arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, March 31, bringing the total number of repatriated OFWs to 2,900 amid the conflict in the Middle East.</p>

Ninety-seven overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and two dependents from Kuwait have arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, March 31, bringing the total number of repatriated OFWs to 2,900 amid the conflict in the Middle East.

Nearly 3,000 OFWs repatriated, hundreds more arriving — OWWA

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Nearly 3,000 OFWs repatriated, hundreds more arriving — OWWA

Jekki Pascual,

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 31, 2026 04:17 PM PHT

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Updated March 31, 2026 05:27 PM PHT

Read More:

NAIA

Middle East

Kuwait

repatriation

OFW

Philippines

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