President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that telecommunications companies will provide free communication services to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East stay connected with their families in the Philippines.
In a Facebook post on March 9, the President said he directed telecommunications firms to activate programs that allow Filipinos abroad to contact their loved ones without additional cost.
“I have directed our telecommunications companies to provide free communication services between our OFWs and their families here in the Philippines,” Marcos said.
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Libreng Tawag Program
Telecommunications companies have activated the Libreng Tawag Program, which provides free call services for Filipinos in several Middle Eastern countries.
The program covers OFWs located in:
- Iran
- Iraq
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
Free call stations will also be installed in selected PLDT and Smart stores in major malls across the Philippines so families can easily communicate with their loved ones abroad.
Free Calls Available Until Mid-March
The PLDT Group confirmed that it has expanded its free call services and added more call stations to support OFWs during the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
- TinBo users in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE can make free calls to the Philippines until March 15.
- PLDT Home and Enterprise customers in the Philippines can also make free international calls to Gulf States, Israel, and Iran until March 15.
- Smart and TNT subscribers may access free call services until March 14.
Smart subscribers in 22 countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, and Yemen, may also contact the Smart crisis hotline (+632 8845 7799) toll-free for urgent coordination with families in the Philippines.
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Government Monitoring Situation in the Middle East
The government continues to monitor the situation in the Middle East as tensions escalate following air strikes and retaliatory attacks in the region.
According to reports, the conflict has already caused significant casualties and has affected millions of people in the region, including around 2.5 million Filipinos living and working in Middle Eastern countries.
Repatriation of OFWs
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that 90 OFWs and their dependents from the United Arab Emirates recently returned safely to the Philippines.
They arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, bringing the total number of Filipinos assisted by the government to more than 400 since the conflict began.
DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said the government is also exploring other options for repatriation, including chartered flights, to ensure the safe return of Filipinos who wish to come home.
Government Urges OFWs to Stay Alert
The government also advised Filipinos in affected areas to remain vigilant, follow local advisories, and stay in contact with Philippine embassies and consulates.
Through the free call program and repatriation efforts, the government aims to ensure that Filipinos abroad can communicate with their families and stay safe during the ongoing crisis.
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