The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have announced a surge in coordinated efforts to ensure the safety of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as geopolitical tensions escalate across the Middle East.
Following directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac emphasized that the government’s “ultimate concern” remains the security of Filipinos in the region. The DMW is currently working in lockstep with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of National Defense (DND), and respective host governments to facilitate safe passage and repatriation.
“Safety is still the paramount concern,” Secretary Cacdac stated. “We are undertaking ways in which our OFWs will be brought home. We are working closely with DFA, DND, and host government authorities along these lines.”
To provide real-time assistance, the DMW and OWWA are maintaining constant communication with Filipino communities through Philippine Embassies and Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs). These channels serve as vital lifelines for monitoring the local security climate and delivering immediate supplies.
OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan reassured workers that the agency is ready to deploy additional resources as soon as conditions allow for large-scale movement.
“We are strengthening our resources to ensure that services are easily accessible. Once everything is clear and we receive the directive to repatriate, we will act,” Caunan said. “That is the assurance our OFWs need right now.”
As of this report, the DMW and OWWA have recorded the following milestones in their response efforts:
| Category | Total Figures |
| OFWs Provided with On-Site Assistance | 1,824 |
| Total Requests for Repatriation Received | 1,189 |
