Thirteen Filipino hotel workers and caregivers safely returned home from Israel on Friday, July 4, 2025, landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, as part of the Philippine government’s ongoing repatriation efforts for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by conflict in the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced Saturday.
The group, welcomed by DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay, Assistant Secretary Maria Angela Galias, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Ryan Uy, and representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), received immediate support upon arrival. This included health screenings, financial assistance from the DMW and OWWA’s emergency repatriation fund, social and welfare development aid, and training vouchers to aid their reintegration.
“What you went through abroad was not easy, especially in the middle of a conflict, which is why we will ensure that you are given enough support for reintegration,” Tutay told the returnees, emphasizing the government’s commitment to their welfare. She added that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. prioritizes their safety above all, stating, “All our President thinks about is your safety.”
Among the repatriated was Josephine Sanglitan Sandoi, a caregiver who had worked in Israel for nearly two decades. Sandoi was among those who sought shelter during a missile strike near their location, a harrowing experience that underscored the urgency of the repatriation program.
The DMW highlighted that the comprehensive assistance aligns with Marcos’ directive to provide robust reintegration support for OFWs returning from Israel. The latest group brings the total number of repatriated workers to 47, according to the Philippine Embassy in Israel, following the country’s voluntary repatriation flights prompted by Israel’s assault on Iran last month.
The government’s “whole-of-government” approach continues to facilitate the safe return of distressed Filipino workers, offering a lifeline to those caught in the region’s escalating tensions.
