More than 160 Filipinos fleeing escalating tensions in the Middle East arrived safely in Manila on Thursday, marking the latest wave of government-led repatriations as regional instability continues to rattle migrant workers.
The group of 166 individuals—comprising 150 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and 16 dependents—arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 following a complex journey from Kuwait. According to Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, the returnees were transported by land across the border into Saudi Arabia before boarding a Gulf Air flight to the Philippine capital.
“They are home now,” Cacdac told reporters as he led a multi-agency team to welcome the group.
For many of the returnees, the decision to leave was driven by the psychological toll of living in a conflict zone. Approximately 63% of the group cited direct safety concerns and the constant threat of aerial warfare as their primary reasons for seeking exit.
“We were scared because of the sirens, the bombs, and the explosions we could hear,” said Juvie Mangcawil, one of the repatriated workers. “It’s truly frightening.”
Others described an environment of constant high-alert, noting that even successful missile interceptions by regional air defense systems contributed to a pervasive sense of anxiety.
“The explosions were happening one after another,” said Roselyn Echon. “It was very scary.”
The Philippine government has ramped up its “whole-of-government” approach to manage the exodus. Upon arrival, the repatriates received immediate medical check-ups, financial aid, and temporary housing from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Health.
To date, the government has funded the return of approximately 3,900 Filipinos, though the total number of returnees from the region has reached 4,200 when including those who paid for their own travel.
The repatriation efforts show no signs of slowing. Cacdac confirmed that another group of a similar size is expected Friday, alongside an eighth chartered flight arriving from the United Arab Emirates.
While the Philippine government remains on high alert, officials expressed cautious optimism regarding a recently brokered two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Cacdac stated that if the truce holds, it could lead to a normalization of the situation and reduce the volume of repatriation requests.
For those who have lost their livelihoods due to the conflict, the DMW said it is prepared to help workers pivot. The department currently has roughly 200,000 active job orders for positions in Asia and Europe for those seeking to return abroad in safer regions.
