MANILA, Philippines — A total of 52 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including undocumented mothers and their children, have returned home from Dubai through the coordinated efforts of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

The repatriated individuals arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on June 17 aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR659. They were welcomed by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac and OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan.

The group included 19 Filipina amnesty beneficiaries and 23 children, as well as 10 OFWs originally bound for Jordan who were stranded in Dubai due to rising tensions in the Middle East.

“This repatriation is part of the government’s continuing efforts to ensure that no Filipino is left behind in times of crisis, as instructed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” said Cacdac. “The government is here to provide all the assistance and necessary support they need.”

According to Cacdac, the mothers and their children were undocumented in the United Arab Emirates, facing difficulties in accessing medical treatment and education due to local laws regarding birth and civil status. The DMW coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Migrant Workers Office, and the Philippine Embassy in Dubai to process necessary documents, including DNA tests.

All returnees received financial aid through the DMW AKSYON Fund, along with airport and reintegration assistance. The 10 stranded OFWs headed for Jordan were also given immediate support.

The DMW noted that, so far, it has assisted 28 OFWs stranded in Dubai following temporary airport closures linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The department advised OFWs affected by flight disruptions to coordinate with their airlines for rebooking and to seek help from the nearest Philippine embassy or MWO if stranded.