BACK HOME: 244 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Bahrain, along with their families, arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Good Friday (April 3, 2026) aboard Gulf Air Flight 154 from Dammam, Saudi Arabia | Photo via DMW
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is preparing around 200,000 overseas job opportunities for Filipino workers displaced by the worsening conflict in the Middle East, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said Friday, as repatriation flights continue to bring home affected workers and their families.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that 4,241 OFWs and dependents have been repatriated as of April 3, with more than 1,500 others still awaiting evacuation. The latest batch of 344 repatriates arrived at Villamor Air Base on Good Friday aboard the government’s seventh chartered flight from the United Arab Emirates.
Cacdac said the government is “fully prepared” to assist returning workers through job matching, financial aid, and temporary shelter. “Approximately 200,000 job orders are already available. We have an understanding of their profiles and respective fields of work, which allows us to align them with suitable employment opportunities,” he said.
Regional Tensions Push More Filipinos to Return Home
The surge in repatriations follows intensified hostilities across the region, prompting multiple governments to issue advisories and evacuate foreign workers. The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said the situation remains “highly volatile,” with Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, noting that “the safety of Filipinos remains our top priority as the situation evolves hour by hour,” in a briefing reported by GMA News.
International outlets have also documented the rapid deterioration of conditions. Reuters reported that several Gulf-based employers have begun scaling down operations or temporarily suspending work due to security risks, affecting migrant laborers across construction, logistics, and domestic work sectors. A Reuters dispatch quoted a UAE-based Filipino supervisor saying, “We were told to pack only essentials. The company said they could no longer guarantee our safety.”
Government Eyes Job Fairs, Alternative Destinations
Cacdac said the DMW is coordinating with recruitment agencies to organize special job fairs for displaced OFWs, including opportunities in Europe and East Asia. “We want them to explore alternative employment in other countries should they lose their jobs in the UAE,” he said.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, in a separate interview with ABS‑CBN News, emphasized that the government is working to “ensure continuity of income” for affected families. “Our goal is not just to bring them home safely but to help them transition quickly into new employment pathways,” he said.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has also activated its reintegration programs, including livelihood grants and psychosocial support. OWWA Administrator Arnel Ignacio told CNN Philippines that many returnees are “deeply anxious about their families’ future,” adding that the agency is “ready to provide both financial and emotional support during this difficult time.”
Thousands Still Await Repatriation
Despite ongoing flights, more than 1,500 OFWs and dependents—mostly from the UAE—remain stranded and awaiting evacuation clearance.
The DMW said it is negotiating additional chartered flights and coordinating with host governments to secure safe passage. “We will not stop until every Filipino who wishes to come home is brought home safely,” Cacdac said.
As the conflict shows no signs of easing, officials warn that more workers may be affected in the coming weeks. The government reiterated its call for Filipinos in high‑risk areas to coordinate with Philippine embassies and follow security advisories.
