Thirty‑eight Filipino overseas workers arrived back in Manila on the evening of 6 November, landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 after being flown home from Saudi Arabia. The flight, operated by Qatar Airways (QR 928), marked the latest tranche in Manila’s government‑assisted repatriation drive.
According to the Department of Migrant Workers, the returnees received a package of assistance that included cash aid, complimentary meals, temporary lodging and transport to their home provinces. The support aims to ease the transition for families affected by the ongoing instability in the Gulf region.
The repatriation aligns with the “Saving Lives” programme, a component of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s UPLIFT initiative, which prioritises the safety of overseas Filipino workers.
On 26 October, the DMW reported that 117 Filipino workers had already been flown home from Saudi Arabia under the same scheme, each given medical and financial help as well as temporary accommodation and onward travel.
The government has pledged to continue the assistance until 11 November, with an estimated 290 more workers expected to return in the coming days.
Filipinos seeking similar aid are advised to contact the nearest Migrant Workers Office, the Philippine Embassy, or call the DMW‑OWWA 24/7 hotline at 1348.
Between 19 and 25 October, the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration helped 383 Filipino workers and their dependents return to the Philippines, following the Houthis’ 10 October strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The airport attack earlier this month killed 14 people and left two Filipinos in intensive care, though no Filipino fatalities were reported, according to DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.
These repatriations underscore Manila’s commitment to protect its overseas workforce amid escalating regional hostilities.
Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/philippines-repatriate-38-ofw-saudi-arabia-houthi-attacks
