MANILA: The Philippine government has arranged a chartered flight to repatriate 290 Filipinos from Lebanon amid the ongoing conflict in the region, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced. This move comes in response to the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have made conditions increasingly precarious for overseas Filipino workers and their families.
According to Philippines News Agency, the group includes 233 overseas Filipino workers and 13 dependents, along with 21 other Filipinos accompanied by 23 dependents. They boarded Flight MYW9071, which departed Lebanon on October 25 at approximately 2 p.m. Beirut time and is scheduled to arrive in Manila on Saturday afternoon. The flight, with a stopover in Doha, Qatar, is part of a collaborative effort by the DMW, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Embassy in Turkiye to ensure the safe return of Filipinos.
The operation aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to evacuate Filipinos from L
ebanon amidst the Middle Eastern unrest. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reported to the President that the DMW and DFA are coordinating closely to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Lebanon. He noted that the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Lebanon are working with local authorities to expedite travel documentation for those joining the flight.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo emphasized the DFA’s commitment to the evacuation efforts, highlighting ongoing collaborations with other Philippine embassies in the region, including those in Beirut and Doha. President Marcos has urged the deployment of government resources to facilitate the repatriation process, which has now resulted in the evacuation of a total of 903 Filipinos from Lebanon, including 47 dependents.
In addition to repatriation efforts, the DMW, MWO, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) continue to provide support to Filipinos awaiting their return to the Philippines. The MWO is currently assisti
ng 69 Filipinos residing in shelters in Beirut, ensuring they have access to food and essential supplies.
Cacdac encouraged overseas Filipino workers to take advantage of the voluntary repatriation program, assuring them of comprehensive support upon their return, as directed by the President. The DMW has promised substantial financial assistance, with each repatriate receiving PHP75,000 from the AKSYON Fund, an additional PHP75,000 from OWWA, and PHP20,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The Department of Health is also prepared to offer free medical consultations and psychological first aid to the returnees. Furthermore, the DMW’s National Reintegration Center for OFWs is poised to aid repatriates in starting new livelihoods or securing alternative employment, supplemented by free skills training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.