DMW: Financial aid provided to 20,000 OFWs affected by US, Israel war on Iran
Passengers on a chartered flight from the Middle East — consisting of 153 Overseas Filipino Workers, 114 dependents, and 50 stranded Filipinos — arrive at Villamor Air Base on March 19, 2026. Yummie Dingding, PPA Pool/FileMANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers has provided financial assistance to around 20,000 Filipinos affected by the United States and Israel’s war on Iran.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said Wednesday that attacks in the Middle East affected the hospitality and construction sectors, especially during the height of the conflict from March to May.
He noted that the hospitality sector has been recovering from the war’s impact.
Cacdac said the DMW has been providing assistance of $200 — around P12,564.40 — to overseas Filipino workers whose jobs were disrupted.
He said the DMW also assisted another 12,000 OFWs whom the government repatriated to the Philippines.
The DMW also provided on-site assistance, repatriation support, and post-arrival and reintegration services.
“We get their profiles so when they come in, kilala na natin sila, may digital record na sila in terms of their skill sets, ‘yung posisyon nila sa abroad, at kung ano ang ninanais nila,” Cacdac explained.
(We get their profiles, so we know who they are and they have a digital record in terms of their skill sets, their work abroad and what they want.)
The DMW chief said that training is also available for returning OFWs for them to upskill in various sectors such as hospitality and construction.