The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday that 24 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were repatriated from Jeddah through a joint effort by the Consulates General of the Philippines and Singapore in Jeddah amid limited flight availability due to Middle East tensions.
In a statement, the DFA said the flight was made through a partnership between the two consulates in Jeddah.
“The OFWs departed King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 4:00 p.m. on 12 March 2026. They arrived in Singapore at 6:00 a.m. on 13 March 2026, where they were assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore with their onward travel to the Philippines,” the statement read.
The Migrant Workers Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Jeddah facilitated the booking of their flights to Manila and also extended financial assistance.
For its part, Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See emphasized that the Philippine government, through the DFA and its missions, has been undertaking complex repatriation efforts to safely bring Filipinos home.
“This is really ASEAN solidarity in action, neighbors helping neighbors in difficult moments. Our ASEAN neighbors have assisted Singaporeans in returning home in past crises,” she added.
“Singapore and the Philippines are close friends, and we were very glad to help these Filipinos begin their journey home. At the end of the day, what matters most is that people return safely to their families,” she said.
In response, the DFA and its Philippine post expressed appreciation to the Government of Singapore for its support.
Earlier, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac stated that while the government is prioritizing repatriation efforts from the UAE, preparations are also underway for land evacuation routes for Filipinos in other regions due to airspace restrictions.
According to DFA records, approximately 2 million Filipino workers are in the Middle East, and as of March 10, over 327 individuals have requested repatriation.
