ILOILO City — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Western Visayas has mobilized resources to assist outbound Ilonggo overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in Manila and Cebu airports following unexpected airport closures in parts of the Middle East, with officials preparing transport support should the disruptions worsen.
The OWWA regional office has activated a dedicated taskforce to monitor the situation and ensure immediate assistance to migrant workers from Western Visayas who may be forced to return home due to flight cancellations and operational disruptions affecting several Middle Eastern countries.
“We advise our workers to expect rebooking options for their tickets. They should be able to resume their travel plans within the next few days, assuming the airports (to their destinations) reopen. However, if these disruptions continue, returning home may become their only viable option,” said OWWA Region 6 officer-in-charge regional director James Mendiola.
Despite the uncertainty, Mendiola noted that some outbound Ilonggo OFWs may still have alternative travel options.
He said flights to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) may remain available even if flights to the capital Riyadh are disrupted, allowing workers to continue their employment overseas once airport operations stabilize.
WV OFWS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Data from OWWA show that as of March 3, 2026, there are 57,486 OFWs from Western Visayas, many of whom are deployed in Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — areas that have recently experienced operational disruptions in their airports due Iranian missile attacks.
OWWA-6 continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Middle East and is awaiting reports from Ilonggo OFWs who may be considering repatriation.
“The government is diligently tracking developments, and we want our Ilonggo OFWs to know that they will be prioritized for assistance. Rest assured that from the moment they arrive in Manila until they reach their home provinces, they will receive comprehensive support from OWWA, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and other relevant agencies,” said Mendiola.
Families of OFWs were also urged to remain vigilant and keep communication lines open with relatives abroad, including sharing government hotline numbers to ensure quick coordination should evacuation or repatriation become necessary.
Local governments in Iloilo, Capiz, and Antique have likewise begun reaching out to constituents working in the Middle East abroad to identify individuals who may wish to return home if the situation escalates.
The coordinated effort aims to ensure that Ilonggo migrant workers will not be left without assistance during the crisis.
Records show the following number of OFWs from Western Visayas currently deployed across Middle Eastern countries: Bahrain – 1,896; Kuwait – 13,204; Oman – 1,456; Qatar – 4,950; Saudi Arabia – 18,665; United Arab Emirates – 15,764; Lebanon – 506; Jordan – 554; Israel – 475; Iraq – 15; and Iran – 1.
Meanwhile, Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) across the region have opened their offices to assist families of workers affected by the ongoing developments.
Authorities are also encouraging OFWs and their families to download the newly launched “Kumusta Kabayan” mobile application designed to help the government monitor the condition of Filipino workers overseas and provide assistance during emergencies.
Developed by the DMW and OWWA, the app allows OFWs and their families to register vital information so authorities can quickly locate and assist them when crises occur.
Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary of DMW, emphasized that the platform strengthens the government’s ability to reach workers and respond to their needs.
“The Kumusta Kabayan App is connected to the electronic systems of the DMW and OWWA, including the database for OFW registration, membership, case management, and welfare reporting,” OWWA-6 said.
Authorities said the digital platform will complement ongoing monitoring efforts and ensure that assistance can be delivered quickly as the situation in the Middle East continues to develop./PN
