MANILA — More than 4,200 overseas Filipinos have returned home as the Philippine government continues repatriation efforts amid the conflict between US-Israeli forces and Iran, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said Friday that the total includes 344 Filipinos who arrived from the United Arab Emirates aboard flight TVR 7737, which departed from Abu Dhabi International Airport and landed at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

“Patuloy lang natin isasagawa ito as long as may mga Pilipinong nagnanais umuwi, lalo na mga OFWs sa ating Mahal na Bayan,” Cacdac said in an interview with Radio Television Malacañang (RTV).

(We will continue to do this as long as there are Filipinos, especially OFWs, who wish to come home to our beloved country.)

DMW and Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) staff welcomed the returning Filipinos, who are part of the seventh batch of repatriates from the Middle East.

Cacdac added that nearly 1,000 Filipinos were assisted by the government over the Holy Week and said more repatriation flights are expected in the coming days.

OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan said her office also provides post-repatriation support, including helping returnees reach their hometowns and reintegrate.

“Nagbibigay kami ng repatriation flights pabalik ng Maynila, post-repatriation services, domestic flights sa probinsya, land transportation assistance, hotel accommodation, meals, may financial assistance tayong binibigay,” she said.

(We are providing repatriation flights back to Manila, post-repatriation services, domestic flights to the provinces, land transportation assistance, hotel accommodation, meals, and financial assistance.)

She added that regional support includes livelihood programs, start-up capital, and training for OWWA members.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, over 2.4 million Filipinos are currently in the Middle East, with the largest populations in the UAE (975,000) and Saudi Arabia (813,000). Some continue to remain in the region to support their families despite the ongoing conflict.

The DMW also acknowledged the contributions of the Filipino SocialClub (FILSOC) volunteers in assisting repatriates from the UAE, highlighting their efforts in providing services to Filipinos from Dubai and the Northern Emirates.