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90ofwshome

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Darylle Sarmiento

ABS-CBN News

<p>Boarding Emirates Flight EK 336 at 9:40 p.m. on March 8, 90 repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 late Sunday evening amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2030716627315237102&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-03-08T23%3A17%3A27.718826%3A0708057c-8e31-4266-bb56-8a21e0b2ff24%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=13a92b23bffcbfd44725f1c2e19f6f5c4e6da9fc&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:625px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2030716627315237102"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>During a press briefing upon their arrival, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac welcomed the group, noting the difficulties many faced before their return.</p><p>“Especially in the context of the current situation in the Middle East, we welcome those who had a hard time coming home, those stranded, or those worrying about whether they could return or not. Finally, they are here,” Cacdac said.</p><p>Thirty-three of the repatriated OFWs, along with several dependents, were part of the first batch to receive government-sponsored airfare. While these 33 were from Abu Dhabi, the remaining passengers in the group came from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and other areas across the United Arab Emirates.</p><p>Cacdac clarified the breakdown of the flight&#x27;s sponsorship.</p><p> “Let’s be clear, 33 of them were sponsored by DMW-OWWA. Many of the others still had their original tickets, had previous flights canceled, or had bookings prior to this flight. In other words, they provided their own plane tickets,&quot; he explained.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE</strong></div><p>The repatriates represent a diverse range of industries, including engineering, technical fields, healthcare, domestic work, retail, manufacturing, architecture, and education. Among the dependents was a one-month-old baby and the senior citizen parents of an OFW.</p><p>OWWA Administrator Atty. Patricia Yvonne Caunan emphasized that the government’s approach is personalized for every returning worker.</p><p>“I think some people see it as a repatriation of a lot of people. But gusto kong malaman ng ating mga kababayan, our treatment is on a per-person basis. Bawat isa, let’s say there is a visa to apply for, an exit clearance to fix, or transport and accommodation arrangements to be made—we handle those,” Caunan explained.</p><p>She added that the process involves &quot;repeated reconfirmation of their intention to repatriate,&quot; followed by preparing temporary accommodations and assisting with transit visas when traveling between countries.</p><div><strong>MONITORING AND FUTURE LOGISTICS</strong></div><p>The DMW is currently preparing chartered flights as tensions heighten in conflict areas. According to agency records, more than 9,000 on-site OFWs have already been provided with food assistance and hygiene kits while staying in government, church, or NGO-sponsored shelters abroad.</p><p>The agency has identified specific land exit points to move OFWs to safer ground as many airspaces and airports remain restricted.</p><p>Additionally, the DMW is closely monitoring three ships carrying Filipino seafarers currently anchored in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz. Authorities are coordinating with manning agencies and ship owners to ensure their safety.</p><p>Since March 5, 2026, a total of 410 repatriated OFWs and their dependents have successfully returned to the Philippines, with more expected in the coming days.</p>

<p>Ninety repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 late Sunday evening amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.</p>

Ninety repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 late Sunday evening amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

90 OFWs home from Middle East via gov't-assisted flight

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90 OFWs home from Middle East via gov't-assisted flight

Darylle Sarmiento,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 09, 2026 07:32 AM PHT

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department of migrant workers

NAIA

Middle East

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