(UPDATE) AT least 80 Filipinos in Dubai have requested to be repatriated to the Philippines as Iranian missile attacks damaged a luxury hotel and the airport, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Monday. In a briefing in Malacañang, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said they are now preparing for repatriation assistance but this could take a while as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) airspace remains closed. “The airspace in Dubai and the airports are closed, we know that there was an attack in Dubai. So, we have preparations in terms of giving the 80 who need repatriation assistance — temporary basic needs assistance and shelters are available. And, then, at an appropriate time they will be evacuated,” Cacdac said in Filipino. The official said the UAE is under Alert Level 2. Mandatory repatriation would only be in effect should the alert level be raised to 4. For now, the government is giving priority to in-country assistance to Filipinos, mostly overseas workers, including basic needs such as food, water, and shelter. “We have the necessary funds, an action fund, and the OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) funds are ready to provide the necessary basic needs assistance, especially to those who have lost their jobs, stopped working or are in a distressed situation,” Cacdac said. “We have transport services available onsite for those who want to — we think they are in a vulnerable area and want to move to another place, we have shelters. Now, the shelters are a combination of the host country-provided shelters, that’s also specific to some of the countries mentioned and we have our own Migrant Workers Office or OWWA shelters onsite,” he added. Although there is no order yet for a mass repatriation of the 2.5 million Filipinos in the Middle East amid the ongoing crisis there, Cacdac said the Philippine government is “ready for such an eventuality, with the proper public and private resources.” “We have coordination with the Department of National Defense and Secretary Gibo (Teodoro) in terms of the possibility to use the proper military assets at the proper time,” he said. “We are also in touch with private companies that will provide land, sea and air options for repatriation. Everything is waiting and ready,” he added. Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to closely monitor developments in the Middle East following the series of airstrikes over the weekend. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro reiterated the president’s directive to concerned government agencies to provide all necessary assistance to Filipinos affected by the hostilities. Marcos also ordered an inter-agency mobilization to guarantee that Filipinos in the Middle East are properly assisted and supported. Apart from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), DMW, and OWWA, the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Information Communications and Technology (DICT) were also tapped to assists Filipinos in need. The DOH would consolidate medical responses, including online medical consultations and psychosocial support services, while the DICT would ensure all telecommunications companies remain online. “Secretary Henry Aguda gave a directive to ensure that all telcos will do everything to make sure connectivity with OFWs in the Middle East is maintained and instructed the regional offices to provide free connections to anyone who would like to reach out to their family members and loved ones in affected areas,” Cacdac said. On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) are also onboard to provide aid to returning Filipinos. Flight disruptions Airspace restrictions in the Middle East due to the war continued to cause flight disruptions for local and foreign airlines operating to and from Ninoy Aquino International Airport. As of Monday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported that at least 45 flights have been disrupted since Feb. 28 due to the ongoing conflict. Cebu Pacific (CEB) has extended its Manila-Dubai flight cancellations through March 3. The airline said it will continue to assess operations to and from the Middle East, noting that “further schedule adjustments may be necessary” as the situation develops. Philippine Airlines (PAL) has already canceled or diverted over 10 flights — including routes to Doha, Riyadh, and Dubai — saying that safety remains their highest priority. Several foreign carriers, including Emirates, Etihad, Kuwait Airways, and Qatar Airways, have also suspended multiple Manila services. The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) announced over the weekend that passengers with scheduled flights to or from Middle East destinations are advised to check their flight status before proceeding to the airport. Travelers are encouraged to contact their airlines directly for the latest updates, confirm bookings before travel, and ensure their contact details are updated to receive notifications. NNIC said it continues to coordinate closely with airlines and aviation authorities to ensure safe and orderly operations. Emergency response measures Given the volatility and unpredictability of the situation in the Middle East, the labor sector called on President Marcos to activate all emergency response measures to ensure the safety and security of overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippine (TUCP), the largest national trade union center in the country, on Monday issued the call amid repeated threats from US President Donald Trump that they will strike with a force that has never been seen before “if Tehran retaliates very hard against the US.” The largest concentration of overseas workers is in the Middle East with an estimated population ranging from 2 million to 3 million. Roughly 90 percent of OFWs are in Saudi Arabia (898,000 to 1 million), United Arab Emirates (650,000 to 700,000), Qatar (250,000 to 264,000) and Kuwait (200,000 to 250,000). Others are Bahrain (50,000 to 55,000) and Oman (45,000 to 48,000). There are an estimated 4,000-6,000 OFWs working inside several US bases in the Middle East, located in Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. These bases have been attacked by Iran with ballistic missiles and drones in retaliation to the US-Israel bombing of Tehran which killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and members of his family. There are seven large US bases in the Middle East situated Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan which have been attacked by Iran. The TUCP called on the government to immediately heighten and activate all emergency response measures that would keep OFWs in the Middle East safe if the war further escalates. “We urge all relevant authorities to work triple-time and activate 24/7 rapid response systems. Clear, consistent, and real-time communication must be established with our kababayan on the ground, especially on critical matters such as their right to refuse unsafe work, access to emergency shelters, updated travel advisories, and verified hotline numbers,” the group said in a statement. In other developments: – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) on Monday said that all Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs) in the Middle East affected by the escalating conflict in the region remain safe and operational. The CFO said PSOs are duly registered educational institutions operating outside the Philippines. A total of 27 PSOs are located in the Gulf region. Some schools have shifted to online classes following directives from their respective host countries, the CFO said in a statement. “We’re closely monitoring the situation of our PSOs and we have advised them to heed the advisories of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), especially those concerning safety and security,” CFO Secretary Dante Ang II said. – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday affirmed that it is ready to support Filipino teachers who may return to the Philippines from the Middle East. The DepEd said that it, in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers, “provides a reintegration pathway for licensed Filipino teachers employed overseas to transition into the public school system.” Qualified applicants may be hired and appointed as Teacher I under permanent status, subject to compliance with established qualification standards and existing hiring guidelines, the department said. – Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula implored the faithful to pray for those who face adversity due to the conflict. The statement echoed an appeal from Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, who urged Catholics to remain united in prayer and to pray the rosary daily for peace and reconciliation. Martinelli also appealed for prayers for the safety and security of all people affected by the war in the region.