President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally welcomed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Monday, March 23, following their repatriation amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Iran.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the government continues to prioritize repatriation efforts to safeguard OFWs.
“Ligtas na nakauwi ang 343 repatriates na kinabibilangan ng 317 OFWs at 26 dependents mula sa Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, at Saudi Arabia sakay ng ika-4 na chartered flight na dumating sa Villamor Air Base, kasunod ng patuloy na hakbang ng pamahalaan upang tiyakin ang kanilang kaligtasan sa gitna ng nagpapatuloy na tensyon sa ilang bahagi ng Middle East,” the PCO reported.
During the arrival, Marcos led the distribution of financial assistance, medical services, psychosocial support, and livelihood and reintegration programs.
He was joined by key Cabinet officials, including Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan.
Photos released by the Palace showed the President warmly greeting the repatriates and checking on their condition.