3 Airlines Committed to Helping in the Repatriation of OFWs in the Middle East

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), three airline companies will provide assistance and help in line with the government repatriation efforts for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) currently in the Middle East and affected by the tension between the United States and Iran. Included on the list are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia. The given airlines just made their commitment as the government already mapped out the necessary evacuation plans for the Filipinos in the Middle East.

As per CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco, Philippine Airlines together with Cebu Pacific have agreed to accommodate those stranded Filipinos free of charge in any of its available Middle East flights. They will help in turning the plans into reality as the repatriation has been outlined already. On the other hand, Air Asia promised to provide possible allocation and free accommodation of those repatriated Filipinos that need to go back to their particular provinces in their domestic flights.

A special working team was created earlier by President Rodrigo Duterte. They are task to craft out a plan for the evacuation of the Filipinos in the Middle East should the tensions further worsen in the said region after killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian commander.

The member of the committee, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, initiated a meeting which discussed efforts and procedures to be undertaken by the concerned agencies and for the government to ensure that safety of the Filipinos in affected areas in the Middles is the utmost priority. Vital actions are already taken care of by the personnel involved.

In line with this, Arthur Tugade, the Transportation Secretary vowed to ensure the prompt repatriation of OFWs if in any case, the situation would warrant it. The aviation sector together with the whole DOTr will fully support the government in this repatriation efforts. Furthermore, he added that they will ensure that there will be no delays in getting all of the OFWs home and safe amidst the on-going tension between the two countries, the United States and Iran.

Meanwhile, the Malacanang Palace also ordered the mandatory repatriation of the Filipinos in Iraq. This is because the Philippine government already raised an Alert Level 4. The assigned working committee is currently doing the necessary steps to safely bring back our fellow Filipinos in their beloved country.