Bulacan Mayor and 11 Vice Mayors Stuck in Dubai During Their "Personal Trips"

You might be nursing a lukewarm 3-in-1 coffee or bracing for a long commute in the humidity, but nearly half of Bulacan’s top leadership is currently cooling their heels in one of the most expensive cities on earth. While their constituents back home deal with the daily grind, 12 high-ranking officials (an incumbent mayor and 11 vice mayors) are currently stranded in the United Arab Emirates. Their poorly timed "personal getaway" hit a massive snag when the US-Israel war against Iran broke out, turning the Middle East into a no-fly zone just as they were meant to head back.

Bulacan officials stranded as flights are grounded

_{Image credit: AshleyB_me | X}

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed on Wednesday that this large group of officials left the Philippines last Wednesday, February 25. While the 11 vice mayors supposedly applied for and received the required travel authority, the DILG is still investigating whether the mayor in the group even had a permit before flying out.

The DILG was quick to clarify that this was not a government mission or an official study tour. These leaders were travelling in their "personal capacity," which has left many taxpayers wondering why so many top-tier officials decided to abandon their posts for a Middle East holiday all at once. Despite the chaos of the war, the group has reportedly not yet asked the DILG for any formal help.

Also read: Middle East Flight Reroutes and Dubai International Airport Closures: Travel Guide for Filipinos Overseas

Safety of Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates

^{Image credit: UAE via Canva Pro}

For the nearly one million Filipinos who actually work in the UAE to support their families, the situation is a real crisis rather than a travel inconvenience. While Ambassador Alfonso Ver says the situation in Dubai remains stable, the initial strikes grounded everything. Now that limited flights are starting to resume, these officials find themselves in the same long queues as the thousands of OFWs who are actually there to earn a living.

The coincidence of almost a dozen vice mayors from a single province being in Dubai at the same time has sparked plenty of talk. While the DILG claims no government funds were used, the fact remains that a huge chunk of Bulacan’s local government is currently in a different time zone while a regional war escalates.

DILG and PNP response to the Middle East conflict

While these politicians wait for a seat on a commercial plane, the Philippine National Police and the Department of Migrant Workers are focused on the actual emergency. They are currently coordinating plans to help any overseas Filipino workers who might need to be repatriated if the situation gets worse.

Secretary Remulla admitted that a mass evacuation of a million Filipinos would be a massive challenge. This would take months to complete given the limited number of long-haul planes. For now, the stranded Bulacan officials are in a state of limbo. They will have to wait for the airlines to sort out the backlog before they can return to their offices and answer for their absence.

Advice for OFWs and Bulacan residents

This incident highlights a major gap in leadership when a crisis hits. If you are a resident of Bulacan, you might want to check who is currently acting as the officer in charge in your town hall while your elected leaders are waiting for flights in Dubai. For those with family in the UAE, keep in close contact with the Philippine Embassy and ensure your loved ones have their travel documents ready, as flight schedules remain highly unpredictable.

^{Featured image credit: Dubai via Canva Pro}