PH GOV’T EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS IN CASE OF UAE AIRSPACE CLOSURE — PALACE

THE Philippine government is looking for alternatives in case the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) airspace closes down due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing in Mandaue City, Cebu, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said repatriation flights from the UAE continue as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives are to prioritize the safety and well-being of Filipinos in the Middle East.

“Nagtatrabaho ang Pangulo. Patuloy na inuuna ng pamahalaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan na naiipit sa gulo sa Gitnang Silangan, hindi ang pansariling interes ng ilan,” the Palace Press Officer said.

“Sa UAE naman, posible pa rin ang pag-uwi sa pamamagitan ng eroplano ngunit nakahanda na rin ang pamahalaan para sa mga alternatibong ruta kung sakaling magsasara ang kanilang airspace,” she noted.

More Filipinos from the Middle East are expected to arrive in Manila this week.

According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), around 120 overseas Filipino workers and their dependents will be arriving on Thursday.

“Ayon sa pinakabagong tala, umabot na sa 769 overseas Filipino workers at kanilang mga kaanak mula sa UAE, Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan at Lebanon ang nakauwi sa ilalim ng repatriation program ng pamahalaan. Inaasahan din na may karagdagang 120 OFWs at kanilang mga kaanak ang makakauwi sa Huwebes, kung kaya’t maaaring umabot na sa 889 Filipinos ang makakauwi sa bansa,” Castro said.

Meanwhile, two charter flights are scheduled this week from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to fly Filipinos back home.

“Dahil sa pagsasara ng ilang airspace, kinakailangang dumaan sa land crossings ang mga OFW sa Israel, Kuwait at Bahrain papuntang Egypt or Saudi Arabia bago makasakay ng flight pauwi ng Pilipinas,” Castro explained.