224 OFWs Repatriated from Israel Amidst Armed Conflict

Manila, Philippines – In response to the ongoing armed conflict initiated by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, the Philippine government has successfully repatriated 224 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and eight children. The latest group, consisting of 39 OFWs and two children, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on an Etihad Airways flight. This batch includes 29 caregivers and 10 hotel workers, as shared by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on their Facebook page. Senior officials from various government departments, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH).

According to Philippines News Agency, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the DMW, led by Assistant Secretary Levinson Alcantara, welcomed the returnees. The group was escorted from Israel by Migrant Workers Office – Israel (MWO-Israel) Labor Attaché Rodolfo Gabasan and welfare officer Dina Ponciano. During their transit through Abu Dhabi International Airport, they met with Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand Ver and Consul General Marford Angeles of the Embassy of the Philippines in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The repatriated workers received various forms of assistance from the Philippine government, including return tickets, financial aid, hotel accommodations, health and psychosocial support, crisis assistance, and skills training opportunities. The coordinated effort underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of Filipino workers abroad during times of crisis.