The Philippine government has issued a deployment ban for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to Israel and Iran due to the escalating tensions between the two countries. According to Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac, the status of the two countries will be raised to alert level 3, which will automatically implement a total deployment ban.
Before the ban was implemented, the government had already issued a reminder advising OFWs to exercise caution when traveling to Israel and Jordan due to missile attacks. Cacdac also said that the Department of Migrant Workers will follow the DFA's advice regarding the possibility of raising the alert level in other countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia.
Cacdac assured that the government has financial and repatriation assistance for OFWs who want to return home, as well as for Filipino seafarers on a ship docked in Iran. The assistance also includes temporary shelter for OFWs who lost their homes in Israel.
Currently, 253 OFWs have requested repatriation, and 50 have been confirmed to be returning home. Cacdac is also returning from Jordan with the first batch of 30 repatriated OFWs from Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank.
According to the embassy in Tel Aviv, 127 Filipinos were displaced after the Iranian missile attack. 118 have been moved to temporary housing and 9 are being prepared for resettlement. It is possible to use the Egypt and Mediterranean Sea route if the road to Jordan is no longer safe.
