Government agencies extended assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound for the Middle East after flight cancellations triggered by escalating tensions in the region.

In a statement Monday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said its Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong assisted 132 OFWs scheduled to depart for Riyadh and Dubai whose flights were cancelled following missile attacks involving the United States, Iran, and Israel.

Of the affected passengers, 57 OFWs bound for Abu Dhabi and stranded at Hong Kong International Airport arrived back in Manila early Monday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The workers were provided with food and temporary accommodation while waiting for updates and alternative travel arrangements.

On Sunday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, along with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, visited NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 to personally check on stranded OFWs affected by the disruptions.

The DMW said the officials assessed the situation on the ground, ensured necessary support such as temporary lodging, and provided updates on developments in the Middle East, including government measures to safeguard Filipinos in the region.

Both officials assured the workers that authorities are closely monitoring the security situation.

Flight disruptions followed renewed military tensions in parts of the Middle East, prompting heightened security measures and temporary airspace restrictions in several countries. Several airlines have cancelled or rerouted flights to key Gulf destinations, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as a precaution.

Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs show that about 2 million OFWs are based in the Middle East as of 2025.