Despite war, more OFWs going to ME

Hundreds of Filipinos in search of a better life are leaving to work in the Middle East despite the potential danger posed by the war in Iraq, Malacañang said yesterday.

Departures to destinations in the Gulf region rose to more than 400 a day since Wednesday, compared to a daily average of 263 over the past 10 days, the Palace said in a statement.

"The people and our contract workers in the Middle East are very calm," said National Security Adviser Roilo Golez. "Filipinos have no apprehensions on flying to the Middle East."

The government said, in the days before the US-led invasion of Iraq, that it expected about 10 percent of the 60,000 Filipino workers in Kuwait to be displaced. They are among 1.5 million Filipinos working in the Middle East.

However, as of yesterday, no one has seen the need to fly home, Golez said in the statement.

President Arroyo banned last week the deployment of Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, and Iraq following the onset of hostilities, but later lifted the ban except for Iraq.

About seven million Filipinos work abroad, remitting about $8 billion to their families every year.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople has ordered Philippine embassies in Israel and Kuwait to conduct a "gas mask check" on all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in these countries, in anticipation of Iraq President Saddam Hussein’s use of biochemical weapons such as the organism that causes anthrax.

Ople issued the order to Philippine ambassador to Israel Belen Anota to make sure that Filipino workers are complying with instructions issued by the Israel defense ministry to have gas masks on hand in case biological or chemical weapons are used in the course of the Iraq war.

He cited a statement made by Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz calling on all citizens "not to get complacent" and to follow Home Front Command instructions on carrying gas masks.

"Our workers would have to deposit US$42 for the gas mask, of which half would be refunded upon the return of the gas mask once the crisis ends," Ople said.

He said the Philippine embassy in Israel has reported to him that gas masks are available to all Filipino workers, whether documented or undocumented.

He, however, ordered Anota to check and double-check that Filipino workers there have claimed their respective gas masks.

"Whatever the nationals have in terms of protective gear, it is our duty to ensure that the same kind of protection is made available to our OFWs," Ople said. — Jose Rodel Clapano, AFP