By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
NEW YORK CITY – The Philippine government is arranging two charter flights to repatriate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced Tuesday (New York time).
In an interview at The Pierre, A Taj Hotel after his two-day working visit here, Marcos said the government is ready to assist all Filipinos abroad who wish to return home amid the crisis.
Marcos noted that around three commercial flights operated by Emirates have already transported several Filipinos from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Manila.
With the situation gradually easing, Marcos said the government is now preparing two additional charter flights to bring home more Filipinos who want to leave the Gulf states.
“And there are two flights that we are planning,” he said, noting that one charter flight will depart from Riyadh to carry Filipinos from Saudi Arabia, as well as those coming from Kuwait and Bahrain.
Marcos said another flight will depart from Fujairah in the UAE to transport OFWs from Dubai.
He said the government is targeting March 13 for the departure of the charter flight from Fujairah, with the expected arrival in Manila late that night or early morning of March 14.
He said personnel from the Department of National Defense and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will also be deployed to assist with the repatriation efforts.
He added that Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac is expected to travel to Dubai to assess the situation and oversee the assistance for displaced OFWs.
Marcos said Filipino nationals arriving from Israel through land border crossings to neighboring countries such as Oman will also be accommodated on the charter flights. (PNA)
