00:00Department of Migrant Workers Chief Hans-Leo Kakdak is mulling a mass exit from the Middle East by land
00:06given the unavailability of air travel with the shutdown of airspace in the UAE, Qatar, Israel, Iran, Lebanon,
00:15and the Desert Kingdom and the respective airport closures.
00:19For now, food and shelter assistance are available to OFW seeking self-repatriation with help from the government.
00:26Our Denise Osorio fills us in with more details.
00:31The Department of Migrant Workers continues to support Filipinos affected by the worsening crisis in the Middle East.
00:37DMW Secretary Hans-Leo Kakdak says they are now just waiting for the green light to mobilize
00:42and to bring home overseas Filipino workers who have asked to be repatriated.
00:46While he could not yet share full details of the wider repatriation plans, Kakdak says the department will move as
00:52soon as conditions on the ground allow.
00:54Once the safety and security of Filipinos in the region can be confirmed.
00:57In the event that airspace of a particular country reopens, when airlines can resume operations,
01:06so of course that could be very well considered.
01:09Israel has earlier announced the possible gradual reopening of its airspace on Wednesday night for repatriation.
01:14But Kakdak stressed they are assessing land routes to move OFWs across borders and into safer locations.
01:20As of 12 noon on 4th March 2026, a total of 1,189 OFWs have asked to be repatriated.
01:28278 from Bahrain, 46 from Israel, 62 from Kuwait, 231 from Dubai, 246 from Abu Dhabi, 173 from Qatar, and
01:375 from Lebanon.
01:37Meanwhile, the DMW says 1,824 OFWs have already received assistance, including food, hygiene kits, financial support, temporary shelter or
01:47accommodation, welfare checks, evacuation help, and hospital visits.
01:52The department also reports 236 stranded OFWs in international transit hubs in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singapore, Manchester, United
02:01Kingdom, and Ethiopia,
02:03including Filipino seafarers left stranded after vessels were held up in the Strait of Hormuz.
02:08Kakdak says that while some have since changed their minds about repatriation, the majority still want to go home.
02:15Marami dyan yung mga na-cancel yung flights. Talagang pa-uwi na, finished contract, vacation time, so they will most
02:24likely avail of the repatriation option or service.
02:28Kakdak added that the decision to return remains with the OFWs, with no order for forced repatriation, and with the
02:34Department of Foreign Affairs still not raising the crisis alert to alert level 4.
02:38Meanwhile, two Filipinas have been reported injured, one in the United Arab Emirates after stepping on sharp debris, and one
02:45in Kuwait after being hit in the neck.
02:47Both OFWs have been discharged from the hospital and are recovering.
02:51As for videos circulating on social media, including one claiming a woman was hit by a blast's impact while live
02:57-streaming, the DMW clarified that the individual is back in the Philippines.
03:01We found no such incident in relation to the current conflict na may nagsasalita, na nagla-livestream na Pilipina at
03:15biglang naapektuhan ng attack in this current conflict.
03:19And for any conflict, for that matter, so hindi mahanap, matrash yung particular incident na yon.
03:27Hindi na namin sasabihin kung sino siya at kung nasaan siya, but rest assured, we're assisting her at the moment.
03:34The DMW is urging OFWs to follow advice from their host countries and from Philippine embassies to help them avoid
03:40any unexpected situations.
03:42The OWA hotline 1348 and official social media channels also remain open to ensure those in need can be assisted.
03:50Denise Osorio from the National Television Network for a new and better Philippines.
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