Manila: The Philippine government has not ordered mass repatriation yet for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by escalating unrest in the Gulf States and Israel, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Monday. In a Palace briefing, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac stated that the tension in the Middle East has not yet reached Alert Level 4, which would necessitate mandatory repatriation.
According to Philippines News Agency, Secretary Cacdac assured that the government is providing intensified in-country assistance to affected OFWs, as some of them have expressed the desire to be repatriated. "But for the countries in the Gulf and Israel, hindi pa ho tayo humantong sa level ng repatriation, but-mass repatriation, but may mga humihiling na rin halimbawa sa Dubai humiling na kung maari-it's a live count of course, but kung maari ay sila'y makauwi na kaya't (But for the countries in the Gulf and Israel, we have not yet reached the level of repatriation but-mass repatriation but there are already requests, for example, in Dubai, requesting if possible-it's a live count of course, but if possible, they can go home so) we are already also preparing," Cacdac said.
Currently, the DMW, in collaboration with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Migrant Workers Offices in the Middle East, is focusing on providing essential services such as food, water, transport, and shelter for distressed workers. On-site transport services are also available for those who wish to relocate to safer areas, including shelters.
Cacdac highlighted the Philippine government's readiness to assist OFWs despite various challenges. In Dubai, around 80 to 100 OFWs have already sought repatriation. Due to numerous flight cancellations, they were first moved to safer locations. "So, may transport assistance, so in-country ang assistance (So, there is transport assistance, so the assistance is in-country)," he explained.
The DMW and OWWA are exploring all possible means to facilitate movement through exit points, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and host countries. Discussions are also ongoing with the Department of National Defense and private companies for land, air, and sea repatriation options.
Additionally, Cacdac stressed the importance of Filipinos abroad adhering to host-country safety protocols, particularly in regions with active security alerts. OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne 'PY' Caunan assured the public that the government's 1348 hotline is operational around the clock. "Mayroon po ang DMW, OWWA na 24/7 operation center po. Ito po ang call center na nagha-handle po ng 1348 hotline (The DMW and OWWA have 24/7 operation center. This is the call center which handles the 1348 hotline)," Caunan mentioned.
As of the latest update, at least 92 cases have been managed through the hotline, primarily from families seeking updates and inquiring about potential repatriation. Caunan also noted that OWWA has increased its personnel and communication lines, including adding WhatsApp numbers, which are widely used in the Middle East, to ensure accessibility for overseas workers.
Hotlines and country-specific contact details are regularly updated on official embassy and agency social media pages to assist Filipinos in need. According to the DFA, there are 2 million OFWs in the Middle East as of 2025.
