President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and supporting the local transport sector during his presidential address on Wednesday, March 25, amid rising global oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict.

“Ang una naming pinag-aalala ay ang ating mga OFW… kaya’t mabuti na lang at magandang relasyon natin sa mga Middle East countries,” Marcos said, stressing that the safety and security of Filipinos abroad remain a top priority.

More than 2,000 OFWs have already been repatriated, while over 16,000 have received assistance, including food, shelter, medical care, transportation, and financial support.

The president highlighted that the government is coordinating closely with host countries to ensure the protection of all Filipinos working in conflict zones.

Marcos also outlined initiatives for the domestic transport sector to ease the burden of rising fuel prices. These include fuel subsidies for jeepney, bus, tricycle, and TNVS drivers; toll discounts for public and freight vehicles; and discounted fares for LRT-2 and MRT-3 commuters.

The president underscored that these measures are part of a broader government strategy to ensure that everyday Filipinos continue to have access to affordable transportation and that the country’s energy and mobility systems remain functional during the crisis.

Marcos emphasized that support for transport workers and OFWs will continue while the government addresses supply challenges, saying, “We will continue to do this until the war ends or until we have repatriated all of our nationals back home here to the Philippines.”