Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo is calling on government agencies to temporarily suspend the deployment of Filipino workers to Middle Eastern countries near the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict, stressing the growing risks on the ground.
At the Balitaan sa Harbor View forum, Tulfo appealed to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Bureau of Immigration to devise urgent measures to halt deployments to potentially affected countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Egypt.
“Maybe we can hold for a while because our countrymen are in a dangerous situation,” Tulfo said in Filipino, warning of the risks if the conflict expands further. He added that deployment could resume once the situation stabilizes through a ceasefire or peaceful resolution.
Despite the rising tension, the Department of Migrant Workers reported that most overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel remain reluctant to return home. “By the nature of their work, they work closely, have emotional as well as professional ties with their elderly patients or wards,” said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, adding that their deep sense of commitment makes repatriation a difficult choice.
Cacdac also cited financial responsibilities and family needs back home as additional factors influencing the workers’ decision to stay. The agency noted that approximately 30,700 Filipinos legally reside and work in Israel, with 80 percent employed as caregivers.
Since hostilities escalated in October 2023, around 2,000 OFWs have opted for repatriation, with another 178 awaiting return. Each repatriated worker receives P75,000 from both the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to help them restart their lives.
Meanwhile, the Philippine embassy in Israel confirmed that the number of injured Filipinos from recent missile attacks has risen to eight. One remains in critical condition following major surgery, while the others have been treated and discharged. Sixty-seven others—now homeless—are currently housed in temporary shelters, including a newborn baby.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has assured that it stands ready to support evacuation efforts should the crisis worsen. “We will be guided by the decisions and policies of higher civilian authorities in all actions related to this evolving situation,” said AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla.
The Philippine Air Force, through its C-130 aircraft, is also preparing for possible evacuation operations, according to spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo. However, the DFA has yet to declare Alert Level 3, which would trigger formal voluntary repatriation measures.
