Gov’t ready for mass evacuation of Filipinos from Middle East

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

GOV’T AID ASSURED. Overseas Filipino workers are back in Manila from Hong Kong on Monday (March 2, 2026) after their flights were cancelled amid the ongoing tension in the Middle East. The Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration assured government aid for OFWs affected by the escalating conflict between Israel-US and Iran. (Photo: PNA)

MANILA – Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday said the government is prepared to assist Filipinos in the Middle East, with funds already in place and agencies on standby as 1,416 nationals have requested repatriation.

Tulfo said the Senate earlier augmented the budgets of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in anticipation of possible escalation in the region.

“We added 1.3 billion sa pondo ng DMW… 800 million sa Office of the Secretary at 500 million sa OWWA (We added PHP1.3 billion to the DMW fund… PHP800 million to the Office of the Secretary and PHP500 million to OWWA),” Tulfo said in a press conference.

He dismissed claims that authorities are unprepared.

“Naka-ready naman ang ating government agencies. Mali po ‘yung sinasabi na hindi ready, hindi nakahanda (Our government agencies are ready. It is wrong to say that we are not ready or not prepared),” he said.

Based on updates from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 10 Filipinos in Iran, 297 in Israel, 22 in Jordan, 231 in Bahrain, 586 in Dubai and 270 in Abu Dhabi have sought repatriation.

Tulfo said evacuation efforts are temporarily affected by airspace closures but noted that flights from Abu Dhabi to Manila are expected to operate, with Emirates Airlines accommodating returning overseas Filipino workers.

He added that he has been receiving regular briefings from DFA officials since Sunday.

“Since Sunday morning, I asked a briefing through phone kay Secretary Tess Lazaro… Binibigyan niya ako ng update around 6 in the morning, tapos isa naman sa afternoon (Since Sunday morning, I asked for a briefing by phone from Secretary Tess Lazaro… She gives me updates around 6 in the morning and another one in the afternoon),” Tulfo said.

The senator said coordination remains ongoing to ensure the safe and orderly return of Filipinos who wish to come home.