Jonathan Frederic De Santos

A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai on March 1, 2026. Fadel Sana, AFP

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — More than a thousand Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East have said they want to come back to the Philippines following days of escalating tension and unrest in the region, which is also called West Asia.</p><p>While the Department of Migrant Workers says it has made the necessary preparations, one major challenge remains — airports and airspace in several affected areas remain closed.</p><p>In a press conference on Wednesday, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Patricia Yvonne Cuanan said the situation unfolding in the region is unprecedented but stressed that contingency plans are in place.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/3/stranded-in-paradise-mideast-war-traps-thousands-in-bali-2015"><strong>Stranded in paradise: Mideast war traps thousands in Bali<br/></strong></a></div><p>“It doesn’t mean na hindi pwedeng paghandaan or wala tayong preparations for it. Palaging merong contingency plan na pine-prepare ang mga post. Siyempre we have to assess the situation,” she said.</p><p>Following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the government has decided that it is “not yet the time to undertake a government repatriation effort” because of the closure of airspace and airports.</p><p>“We want risks down to zero. We don’t want to put any of our kababayans in harm&#x27;s way,” he said.</p><p>An alternative being considered, he said, is transporting OFWs by land to where airports are operational.</p><p>So far, Filipinos in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Lebanon have signified their desire to return to the Philippines.</p><p>More than 2 million Filipinos work in the Middle East, according to government figures.</p><p>OWWA stressed that repatriation is a tedious process that requires constant communication and verification. Because of this, the agency is urging Filipinos in the region who are considering repatriation to immediately contact the Philippine Embassy.</p><p>“Kami naman ang mangungulit. Tawagan niyo kami, yung aming mga hotlines. Para malaman namin ang kundisyon niyo,” Cuanan said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/2/at-least-45-flights-cancelled-due-to-middle-east-airstrikes-1217"><strong>At least 45 flights cancelled due to Middle East airstrikes<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Waiting for go signal to repatriate remains<br/></strong></div><p>Following the death of Mary Anne De Vera, a caregiver in Tel Aviv, OWWA said it has already made contact with her husband in Israel and relatives in the Philippines. Authorities have also been able to contact her sister, who is based in Qatar.</p><p>Cuanan assured the public that the Israeli government has expressed its commitment to help repatriate De Vera’s remains.</p><p>“Ang complication arises because sarado ang airspace sa ngayon because ongoing pa yung atake.”</p><p>The Israeli government announced De Vera’s death on Sunday.</p><p>The DMW said other Filipinos have sustained minor injuries amid the ongoing attacks. Among them is a fast-food worker in Kuwait who suffered neck injuries following a blast at Kuwait International Airport, and another Filipino in Abu Dhabi who was also injured by debris.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Alert levels<br/></strong></div><p>At least 10 areas in the region are currently under a crisis alert level, including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, and Yemen.</p><p>Other Gulf states that were also attacked by Iran, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain, have yet to be placed under an alert level.</p><p>Because of this, Cacdac said the government continues to process documents for Filipinos seeking employment in countries outside Alert Level 2.</p>

<p>More than a thousand Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East have said they want to come back to the Philippines following days of escalating tension and unrest in the region, which is also called West Asia.</p>

More than a thousand Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East have said they want to come back to the Philippines following days of escalating tension and unrest in the region, which is also called West Asia.

Airspace closures complicate plans to bring OFWs home from Middle East

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Airspace closures complicate plans to bring OFWs home from Middle East

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 04, 2026 05:32 PM PHT

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Iran

Middle East

United States

Israel

Department of Migrant Workers

Overseas Filipino Workers

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