The Philippine government successfully facilitated the safe return of 90 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates as regional tensions continue to drive repatriation efforts.
The group arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 aboard Emirates Flight EK 334 on Sunday evening, where they were met by high-ranking labor and social welfare officials.
The arrival was overseen by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan. The inter-agency reception team also included representatives from:
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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
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The Manila International Airport (MIA) Medical Team
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New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC)
Among the returnees were 33 individuals who proactively accepted the government’s voluntary repatriation offer, while the remaining passengers were OFWs previously stranded in Dubai.
Secretary Cacdac reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring no worker is left behind during the current period of instability.
“Our priority is the safety and dignity of our modern-day heroes,” Secretary Cacdac stated. “We are providing full pre-repatriation assistance on the ground in the UAE and ensuring robust post-repatriation financial aid to help our kababayans transition back to their lives in the Philippines.”
Since the resurgence of the Middle East crisis on February 28, 2026, the DMW and OWWA have intensified their monitoring and evacuation protocols. As of March 5, 2026, the total number of repatriates stands at:
| Category | Total Returnees |
| OFWs | 399 |
| Dependents | 12 |
| Total | 411 |
The DMW continues to monitor the situation across the region and urges OFWs in affected areas to stay in contact with the nearest Philippine Embassy or Migrant Workers Office (MWO).
