DMW identifies land exit points for OFWs as over 1,900 seek repatriation amid escalating Middle East crisis
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has identified land exit points and pick-up locations for the repatriation of Filipinos, with over 1,900 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) already requesting to return home. President Marcos Jr. directed the exploration of alternative ways to bring Filipinos safely home, though specific locations remain undisclosed for security reasons.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has identified specific land exit points and developed comprehensive repatriation plans for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. As of early March 2026, over 1,900 OFWs have requested repatriation, with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) reporting 1,189 formal requests distributed across several countries: 278 from Israel, 246 from Abu Dhabi, 173 from Qatar, 62 from Dubai, and 5 from Lebanon. Other reports indicate over 1,400 total requests, with 586 from Dubai, 297 from Israel, 270 from Abu Dhabi, and 231 from Bahrain. The DMW has already assisted 1,824 OFWs on-site, with additional support for 236 stranded at transit hubs like Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to explore alternative ways to bring Filipinos safely home, though specific exit locations remain undisclosed for security reasons. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that exit points have been identified for OFWs who have expressed intention to return, with coordination between DMW, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of National Defense, and private sectors. The government is preparing for mass evacuation operations should hostilities worsen, with contingency funds allocated and military assets like C-130 aircraft on standby.
Current alert levels show Gaza, Syria, and Yemen at Level 4 (mandatory evacuation), Iraq and Lebanon at Level 3 (voluntary repatriation), while Iran, Israel, West Bank, Kurdistan, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar remain at Level 2 (deployment ban) or Level 1 (precautionary). No mandatory repatriation has been ordered yet, but the government is prepared for massive evacuation operations. Airspace closures, particularly in the UAE, have complicated air evacuations, prompting consideration of land transport to operational airports.
Repatriation plans include designated meeting points, exit strategies via land, sea, or air, temporary housing arrangements for 297 individuals, land transport for 171, and domestic flights for 134 arrivals in Manila. OWWA and DMW are covering initial costs for distressed OFWs lacking funds. The Senate has urged that repatriation be undertaken only in necessary situations, emphasizing coordinated strategies to avoid panic among Filipino workers abroad while ensuring their safety during the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Join the discussion
What do you think? Drop your thoughts below.