BUTUAN CITY (March 9) — With conflict tensions rising in the Middle East, authorities in Caraga have activated emergency response systems to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families in the region—many of whom depend on relatives working abroad for their livelihood.
The regional office of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has mobilized its Quick Response Team (QRT) and opened a dedicated OFW Help Desk in Butuan City to monitor developments and provide assistance to migrant workers and their families.
DMW Caraga Regional Director Ritchel M. Butao said in a statement that the move aims to ensure that migrant families are not left without support should the situation escalate.
“No Overseas Filipino Worker from Caraga will face uncertainty alone. Our office is prepared to respond and support them and their families,” Butao said.
Anxiety among migrant families
The help desk, which began operations on March 1 at the DMW Caraga regional office, functions as a central information and coordination hub where families can seek updates, raise concerns, and request government intervention if necessary.
A 24/7 hotline has also been opened to ensure immediate response to urgent inquiries.
For many families in Caraga, the developments in the Middle East have revived familiar anxieties. The region has long been a source of migrant labor for countries in the Gulf and nearby areas, where thousands of Filipinos work as domestic workers, construction laborers, health workers, and service staff.
Records from DMW Caraga show that 1,074 documented OFWs from the region processed their employment papers locally. Officials note that the actual number of migrant workers with roots in Caraga could be significantly higher, as many complete their processing in other regions before deployment.
As of March 5, the help desk had already assisted 10 families seeking updates and guidance about relatives working overseas.
Preparing frontline responders
Beyond information services, the agency is also strengthening its internal response capacity in case a humanitarian or evacuation situation arises.
From March 4 to 5, the DMW Caraga conducted Phase 2 Capability Enhancement Training for members of the Quick Response Team, focusing on Psychological First Aid (PFA)—a crisis response method that equips responders with skills to provide immediate emotional and psychosocial support to distressed families.
“These preparations ensure that our personnel are equipped to provide appropriate emotional, physical, and mental support to OFWs and their families should the situation escalate,” Butao said.
Accountability and coordination
Officials said the activation of the QRT also places the regional office on heightened coordination mode with national government agencies and Philippine posts abroad to ensure timely assistance.
The DMW Caraga office is expected to coordinate closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine embassies in the Middle East should repatriation or welfare assistance become necessary.
The agency is also working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to install free Wi-Fi at the regional office so families who visit the help desk can communicate more easily with relatives overseas.
These measures form part of the migrant protection framework being strengthened under DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, who has repeatedly emphasized the need for faster response systems for OFWs affected by global crises.
Ensuring access to help
Butao urged families in Caraga not to rely solely on social media reports or unofficial information circulating online and instead coordinate directly with the DMW for verified updates.
“We encourage families to reach out to us so we can provide accurate information and assistance,” she said.
Families of OFWs may contact the DMW Caraga OFW Help Desk hotline at 0945-882-0646 or visit the DMW regional office in Butuan City for assistance.
