4 days ago
5
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
MANILA, Philippines — Senator-elect and outgoing ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is asking concerned government agencies to halt the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to areas caught in the middle of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Speaking at the monthly Balitaan sa Harbor View news forum held by the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association, Tulfo also said he would be prioritizing pro-poor legislative measures in the Senate, vowing to “hit the ground running.”
Tulfo yesterday called on the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration to devise ways to effectively hold, albeit temporarily, sending OFWs to conflict-affected areas in the Middle East for their own safety.
“Not everywhere in the Middle East, only those in surrounding areas of Iran and Israel like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, Jordan and and Egypt. Now if we keep sending and the war might spread, we will be in a difficult spot because we have millions of OFWs in the Middle East. If we keep sending now, maybe we can hold for a while because our countrymen are in a dangerous situation,” he said in Filipino.
“Maybe if there’s a ceasefire or the conflict ends, maybe we can resume deployment but for now, our kababayans may be in trouble,” he added.
OFWs hesitant
A majority of the OFWs in Israel continue to hesitate in seeking repatriation as they already developed strong emotional and professional ties with the people they work for, according to the DMW.
“By the nature of their work, they work closely, have emotional as well as professional ties with their elderly patients or wards, and are therefore committed, dedicated to their work,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said at a press briefing on Thursday.
“This is why it’s not so easy for them to let go, to come home because it’s pretty much part of their responsibility to take care of their patients, of their wards, especially the elderly,” the DMW chief said.
According to the DMW, from the time hostilities escalated in Israel in October 2023, around 2,000 OFWs there have sought repatriation. Another 178 OFWs, meanwhile, await to be brought home.
Data showed that around 30,700 Filipinos are legally living and working in Israel. Of the number, 80 percent are caregivers.
Cacdac also said that the needs of the OFWs’ families here in the Philippines are preventing them from coming home. “With regards to the salary or financial gain out of working in Israel, yes, that is a factor too,” he said.
The official added this is the reason why they offer different types of assistance, including financial aid, to OFWs if they seek repatriation.
Each repatriated OFW will get P75,000 from the DMW and another P75,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
The Philippine embassy in Israel said the number of Filipinos hurt due to Iran’s missile attacks has now increased from seven to eight. Of the injured, one has undergone major pulmonary surgery and is still in the intensive care unit, another had moderate-serious injuries, while the rest have been discharged after receiving treatment for minor injuries.
So far, 67 have lost their homes due to missile impact and are currently being housed in temporary accommodations, including an infant who was born on June 10.
Help repatriate Pinoys
The Armed Forces of the Philippines gave assurance yesterday that it is ready to help and utilize its assets to evacuate Filipinos in case the conflict between Israel and Iran further escalates.
So far, the DFA has yet to declare Alert Level 3 that would trigger the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos from the warring nations.
“The AFP is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, particularly the situation between Iran and Israel,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.
“We will be guided by the decisions and policies of higher civilian authorities in all actions related to this evolving situation,” Padilla said.
Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the “PAF anticipates and prepares for any eventuality that assets may be utilized for evacuation.”
According to her, the PAF will use its C-130 cargo aircraft in case of evacuation operations.
