26 repatriated Filipinos from Israel to arrive in PH on Tuesday – DMW

Stranded Israelis line up at the entrance to the departures terminal at Cyprus’ main port in Limassol where they’ll board the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris to take them back to their homeland, on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

MANILA, Philippines — The 26 Filipinos who availed themselves of the voluntary repatriation program from Israel will arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday morning, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Sunday.

During a press conference, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that they received the Filipinos who crossed over Israel going to Jordan for their repatriation.

“Right now, they are all safe in their hotel accommodations in Amman [in Jordan]… and now are braced to be repatriated tomorrow,” Cacdac said.

Cacdac added that four more Filipinos will be arriving in the country on Tuesday.

READ: DFA tells Filipinos in Israel, Iran to voluntarily repatriate

“There will be an added small group of OFWs [overseas Filipino workers], about three of them from Jordan and there will be one from the West Bank. There will be a total of 30 who will be joining the commercial flight or repatriation flight tomorrow for Manila,” Cacdac added.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Philippine Embassy in Israel shared that Ambassador Aileen Mendiola and the DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration team accompanied the 26 Filipinos in crossing the Allenby Border. The embassy added that the repatriation of 33 Filipinos from the second batch of the voluntary repatriation program.

Earlier on Sunday, the embassy said that 311 Filipinos have received assistance including emergency financial assistance, temporary shelter, and food and basic goods assistance.

Meanwhile, when asked of the government’s programs for the repatriated Filipinos to sustain their livelihood, Cacdac said that they will be given P150,000 of financial assistance upon their arrival. Aside from this, they will be given a training voucher from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for the OFWs to further enhance their skills.

READ: Filipinos requesting repatriation from Israel now at 223 – PH embassy

Cacdac added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development will extend cash assistance while the Department of Health will provide post-arrival medical checkup and possible medical treatment to those who will need it.

Caddac also said that the DMW and the Department of Labor and Employment will conduct job fairs for the repatriated Filipinos. He then shared that the DMW will partner with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Tourism to facilitate related job opportunities in these industries.

The heightened tension between Iran and Israel started when Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear and military sites last June 13. Iran also fired ballistic missiles at Israel in a counter-strike on the same day. /cb