More OFWs seeking repatriation from Israel

MANILA, Philippines —  More overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel and in other Middle East countries are seeking repatriation as tension in the region continues to escalate.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the number of OFWs in Israel who expressed their desire to come home has already jumped to 178, and the figure is expected to grow further.

Aside from those in Israel, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have also received requests for repatriation from 14 OFWs in Iran, three in Jordan, one in Lebanon, and one in Iraq.

“Mandatory repatriation ay hindi pa napapanahon (not yet time), but already we know that there are OFWs who are willing to come home, want to come home kaya tutulungan natin sila para magkaroon ng (and we’re helping them so they can have) facilitated repatriation,” Cacdac said.

Cacdac said the Philippine government is already processing repatriation requests. He noted that 28 of those who availed themselves of voluntary repatriation are already “travel ready” and would be coming home “as soon as possible.”

Patricia Caunan, OWWA chief, noted that many of the Filipinos working as caregivers in Israel have developed strong emotional ties with their wards and would rather stay.

Cacdac stressed that the government’s repatriation program is still on “voluntary mode” primarily because Israel has bomb shelters that have proven to be effective.

“Having bomb shelters has proven to be significant here in Israel, because it spares a lot of lives. So this is a very important feature of Israel society,” Cacdac pointed out.

But still, the government is persuading Filipinos to return voluntarily and get as much as P150,000 financial aid as well as necessary medical, training and employment assistance, he said.

He also reported that the DMW has also assisted in the repatriation of 58 OFWs who got stranded following the exchange of missile attacks between Iran and Israel.

According to Cacdac, local recruitment agencies are now also on red alert and under orders to assist in the voluntary repatriation of the OFWs they have deployed.

Cacdac said recruitment agencies have also been ordered to halt the deployment of OFWs to Israel and Jordan. Those found violating the order would face sanction.

Manning agencies, meanwhile, have been prohibited from allowing Filipino seafarers to board foreign vessels passing through Yemen and the coast near Iran.

Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said employers in Jordan have also been advised that Filipino workers cannot immediately join them because of the prevailing hostilities.

At Malacañang, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the impact of the Israel-Iran conflict on OFW remittances is “limited.”

“The impact on remittances remains limited for now, given the remittances from Israel and Iran amounted to $106.4 million in 2024, .03 percent of total remittances,” Castro quoted Finance Undersecretary Maria Luwalhati Tiuseco as saying.

“However, an escalation that could include the rest of the Middle East will have a substantial effect on overall remittances,” Castro added.

The House of Representatives, for its part, has called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to keep focused on its task of ensuring safe repatriation of Filipinos in Israel and Iran.

“The House of Representatives closely monitor the situation in Israel and we expect that the DFA will do its job to protect our citizens. We are also coordinating with the agency to ensure that all our fellow Filipinos, with or without position, will be protected in our situation and what is happening in Israel right now,” House spokesperson Princess Abante said at a press briefing.

No lawmaker stranded

She also made it clear that no member of the outgoing 19th Congress is in Israel, following earlier reports suggesting some lawmakers may have been stranded or en route to the Jewish state.

“I believe that it’s not the members of the House of Representatives who are fond of going abroad. Be that as it may, I believe that no members of the 19th Congress are in Israel right now. Following the statement of the Secretary General, I think some planned but they did not leave,” Abante said.

“What I can confirm now is no members of the 19th Congress are in Israel. I have no personal knowledge if there some are in transit or changed their itineraries, but according to the information that I have now, no members of 19th Congress are in Israel, right now,” she added.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco earlier confirmed that two lawmakers had requested for travel clearances to Israel but later cancelled them.

For Migrante International, the Marcos administration should immediately organize a systematic rescue of OFWs.

“Filipino migrants across the Middle East are fearing for their lives, but Bongbong is neglecting their pleas for rescue. This is a cruelty in their greatest time of need,” Josie Pingkihan, Migrante deputy secretary general, said.

“Before it is too late: we demand that not one Filipino migrant be denied rescue and a second chance to live peacefully at home,” Pingkihan said.

Irene Floro, chairman of the board of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc., also said an immediate repatriation is in order.

“They ask our government to really move fast, because if we do not move fast and pull out all our overseas workers abroad, they will be in serious danger,” Floro said.

“Imagine, 17 government officials are stranded right now in Israel, and they cannot depart, because all the borders are closed,” she said.

“I was struck by the statement of our President Bongbong Marcos that this will be up to the families to decide. The Philippine government should take action. Pull them out, send airplanes, and bring those workers back to the country,” she said.

“There’s no more internet in those war zone areas. The only diplomatic way to do it is for the government to send planes and bring those overseas workers home – whether they like it or not,” Floro said.

21 officials cross border

The Philippine embassy in Amman, Jordan said it had successfully facilitated the border crossing from Israel of 21 officials.

“In Amman, the embassy, under the leadership of Ambassador (Wilfredo) Santos, made formal representations to Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the Jordanian Border Security to secure entry clearance for the officials,” the embassy said.

The group was met by Santos at the King Hussein Border, where they were provided with the necessary assistance and issued transit visas, at no cost to the Philippine government.

Israeli ambassador Ilan Fluss said the officials were in good condition and were receiving assistance.

“All of them have been taken care of by the Israeli government, and we are also looking for ways to send them back to the Philippines,” Fluss said. “I can tell you that they are getting fed, lodging, and whatever they need. We are catering for, and I know that they are doing fine.”

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed that four of the stranded officials were from the Department of Agriculture. They were in the Jewish state for a study visit on best practices in dairy farming, he said.

“I’m happy to say that they will be arriving on Saturday at 5 a.m. I just wish that the remaining part of the journey is safe,” Tiu Laurel said. “We talked to them every day. We are on top of it.”

Meanwhile, former House deputy minority leader and Bayan Muna representative Carlos Isagani Zarate urged Makabayan bloc legislators to immediately refile and prioritize the comprehensive Lower Oil Prices Bills Package measure as oil prices threaten to surge due to developments in the Middle East.- Pia Lee-Brago, Jose Rodel Clapano, Christine Boton, Emmanuel Tupas, Gerry Lee Gorit, Rudy Santos