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Christine Boton - The Philippine Star
April 10, 2026 | 12:00am
Around 244 OFWs that were repatriated from Bahrain returned to the Philippines on Friday, April 3, 2026.
DMW / Release
MANILA, Philippines — About 84 percent of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning from the Middle East still hope to find employment abroad, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said, even as the government ramps up repatriation efforts amid ongoing regional tensions.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the figure was based on entry surveys conducted among repatriated Filipinos upon arrival in the country, administered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
He noted that some workers, particularly those from the United Arab Emirates, experienced temporary work disruptions or opted to return home, but may be redeployed as they still hold valid employment visas.
“They will be given the opportunity to return through facilitated processing of their clearances,” Cacdac said.
The DMW has so far facilitated the return of nearly 4,000 Filipinos affected by the crisis in parts of the Middle East, including those from Iran and nearby Gulf states.
More chartered flights are scheduled in the coming days to assist more nationals who wish to return home.
Recently, the agency said it has prepared around 200,000 job orders across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas matched to workers’ skills.
At the same time, the government is strengthening reintegration efforts for returning OFWs who may opt to stay in the country. These include livelihood programs, job fairs, skills training, and financial assistance.
Cacdac said about 4,000 affected workers have already received financial aid due to disrupted employment, reduced working hours, or forced leave.
To sustain these initiatives, the DMW has secured an additional P800 million in funding and is projecting a total requirement of up to P7.3 billion should the situation worsen, and more workers require assistance.
The Department of Health said it is set to provide telepsychiatry services for the OFWs.
Yesterday, 166 OFWs and their dependents from Kuwait arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, as government-led repatriation efforts continued amid tensions in the Middle East.
Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday asked President Marcos about the efforts of his administration to address the impacts of the oil crisis amid the war in the Middle East. – Rudy Santos, Bella Cariaso, Rhodina Villanueva
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