Marcos meets 343 Filipinos returning home from Middle EastMANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed 343 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who returned home as evacuees from the Middle East on Monday, March 23, as the government repatriation efforts. The group arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City aboard the fourth government-chartered flight, which departed from Saudi Arabia. "We have 343 from the fourth chartered flight from Saudi Arabia... 234 of whom are from Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain," Cacdac said in Filipino. More flights expectedCacdac said the government is preparing additional evacuation flights, including fifth and sixth chartered flights from the United Arab Emirates, which hosts a large Filipino population. Returning OFWs will receive government support, including temporary accommodation, transportation assistance, financial aid and arrangements for their travel to home provinces.

Source: Philippine Star March 23, 2026 04:28 UTC