MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has advised the more than 2.5 million Filipinos in the Middle East to “stay put” for the time being, as escalating conflict and closed airspace make mass repatriation currently impossible.
While 1,416 Filipinos have already formally requested to return home, the President explained that the logistics are severely compromised:
- No-Fly Zones: Much of the region is now a combat area. Marcos noted that airports in major cities have been hit by airstrikes, and flying is extremely dangerous.
- Friendly Fire Risks: The President highlighted a recent incident where U.S. fighter jets were mistakenly shot down over Kuwait, emphasizing that the skies and land routes are currently too volatile for rescue convoys.
- Flight Disruptions: At least 45 flights between the Philippines and the Middle East have been canceled or diverted since February 28.
Requests for repatriation are coming from across the region:
- UAE: 586 from Dubai and 270 from Abu Dhabi.
- Israel: 297 OFWs.
- Other areas: 231 from Bahrain, 22 from Jordan, and 10 from Iran.
Tragically, casualties have already been reported. A 32-year-old Filipina caregiver from Pangasinan was killed in Tel Aviv while trying to save her patient during an Iranian strike. Another OFW in Kuwait survived neck wounds sustained during an attack on an airport terminal.
- Alert Levels: Mass repatriation (Alert Level 4) has not yet been declared for major Gulf states. Currently, only Gaza, Syria, and Yemen are at the highest alert level.
- Free Calls: Smart Communications is offering free calls for OFWs in the Middle East to contact their families and the DMW-OWWA hotline (1348) until March 15. Globe Telecom is also providing free 1GB roaming packages for subscribers in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Local governments, such as Iloilo City, are closely tracking their constituents abroad, with Mayor Raisa Treñas monitoring 224 Ilonggo OFWs to ensure they receive immediate aid if they manage to return home.