The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is set to repatriate Filipinos from the Middle East following the escalation of tensions due to the Israel-Iran conflict. Undersecretary Bernard Olalia confirmed that the DMW, along with Migrant Workers Offices (MWO) and labor attachés in the region, are on high alert for any developments.
“We are ready to help them. Contingency plans are on standby in case it is needed. The government is ready to provide immediate assistance,” Olalia stated during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. He emphasized that a hotline has been activated to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families affected by the situation.
“We would like the public to know, especially the OFWs and their families here in the country, that our hotline 1348 is now accessible for any assistance they need amid this conflict,” he added. Currently, there are approximately 20,000 OFWs in Israel, working in various sectors including caregiving, hospitality, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Olalia noted that Alert Level 3, which allows for voluntary repatriation, has been in effect in Israel since 2023. He mentioned that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will determine if the alert level will be raised to Level 4, which would mandate evacuation.
Recent reports from Anadolu News Agency indicate that Israel has initiated military operations targeting Iran’s nuclear and military sites, resulting in significant casualties among Iranian military leaders. In response, Iran launched “Operation True Promise III,” leading to missile launches that triggered alarms across Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
For further assistance, OFWs can contact the following hotlines: +63 2 1348 (if abroad), Viber/WhatsApp at +63 908 326 8344, +63 927 147 8186, and +63 920 517 1059. Additional contact numbers include the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv at +972 54 466 1188, MWO at +972 50 762 2590, and the Overseas Welfare Office at +972 50 715 6937. For those in Lebanon, the Philippine Embassy can be reached at +961 70 858 086, and in Jordan at +962 7 8149 1183 or +962 7 8519 1891.