Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beiruts southern suburbs Haret Hreik neighborhood on March 5, 2026. An Israeli strike targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut late on March 5, according to Lebanese state media, following an Israeli evacuation warning. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2, when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iran's supreme leader during US-Israeli strikes. Ibrahim Amro, AFP
MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers said Friday it had set into motion its plans for the repatriation of Filipinos caught in the armed conflict in the Middle East.
DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac briefed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and noted that less than 2,000 have registered for repatriation.
Cacdac said repatriation would begin in at least five countries.
“We have identified designated meeting points, exit points, temporary relocation points, exit points. Because the airports are closed, [repatriation] will be by land so we have identified every land border crossing per five countries and we have prepared the logistical aspects,” he said.
“Ang payo po ng ating Pangulo ensure number one coordination with the host countries and number two the safety in the repatriation process. Yun po ang gabay ng Pangulo kaya yun po ang sinusigurado po natin bago tayo magsagawa ng repatriation process. " Cacdac added.
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He acknowledged that due to sheer volume, repatriation won't be simple.
“Ang strategy po natin essentially is on the western flank meron tayong rapid response team na nasa Egypt at meron tayo sa kabila naman sa eastern side sa Oman." Cacdac said.
“Paliligiran natin yung pertinent five countries na binabanggit ko po. And along the Saudi line, meron na rin po tayo doon nakahanda. So, all it takes is to execute the same.”
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The repatriation efforts “will need possibly additional funds” and the DMW “had already made the necessary manifestations” with the budget department, the official said.
Cacdac said that since March 4, they have so far served 6,000 Filipinos, with some needing transport or relocation assistance.
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SITUATION STILL ‘FLUID’
Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Ezzedin Tago said the situation in the Middle East “is fluid and information remains limited.”
"At this time communication networks in all countries that are affected remain operational, although sometimes there are interruptions in data and phone,” Tago said.
“In the area of diplomatic coordination the DFA through its FSPs is closely coordinating with host government authorities through both formal diplomatic and informal channels to identify the presence of Filipinos in affected areas and to explore and repatriation arrangements and ensure that these routes are safe,” the official added.
Around 2 million OFWs in the region send billions of dollars in remittances home each year to families in the Philippines that depend on them as the primary breadwinners.
On Sunday, the new outbreak of hostilities claimed their first victim from the Philippines: Mary Ann Velasquez De Vera, a 32-year-old caregiver killed as she attempted to escort her elderly ward to an Israeli bomb shelter.
— With reports from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse