Manila: Two planeloads of overseas workers comprising the biggest batch of Filipinos fleeing the fighting in Libya, are set to arrive in Manila on Saturday afternoon and early on Sunday, officials said.

Marissa Cruz of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) said the first batch of Filipinos that left Malta’s port of Valleta on Friday via a ship chartered by the Philippines government for the repatriation efforts from Libya, is expected to arrive at 10pm on Saturday.

“Nearly 400 Filipinos will arrive [on] Saturday evening from Malta aboard a Philippine Airlines flight. They are part of the total 787 Filipinos who opted to be repatriated by a ship chartered by the Philippines as conditions in Libya are becoming difficult for them,” she told Gulf News.

Another flight carrying the second batch of 369 Filipinos who were ferried by ship to Malta from Libya are expected to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 3am, she added.

“Barring any problems and delays, these batches will be with their families by Sunday,” Cruz said.

Earlier, Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Consul Charles Jose said a ferry that could accommodate 1,500 passengers was chartered by the Philippine government for the repatriation of its nationals in Libya.

More than 1,000 Filipinos enlisted to be repatriated, however, when the ship arrived at the port of Misrata and Benghazi, only 787 Filipinos showed up.

According to Cruz, some of those who had signed up for repatriation were convinced to stay.

“Some of them had been offered bigger pay by their employers as they hold critical jobs in technical services and engineering while others, such as medical staff, are being asked by their superiors to stay because their services are important especially as they are needed to attend to medical emergencies,” she said.

Earlier, the Philippine government had advised its nationals to flee Libya as fighting between government forces and the various militant factions in the North African country intensified.

Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, there are some 13,000 Filipinos working in Libya. More than 2,000 have returned.