DAVAO CITY (June 15)-The Philippine government has placed all its Migrant Workers offices in the Middle East on heightened alert and is laying the groundwork for possible evacuations of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as hostilities between Israel and Iran threaten to spill across the region.
In a statement Saturday, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Bernard Olalia confirmed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had directed the agency to ensure the safety and welfare of over two million Filipinos working across the Middle East.
“All DMW front offices, particularly in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and other nearby countries, are on heightened alert due to the ongoing unrest,” Olalia said. He added that labor attachés and welfare officers have been ordered to remain on 24-hour standby, with all leaves suspended and emergency hotlines activated.
The move comes as tensions sharply escalated over the weekend following Israel’s intensified strikes on Iranian targets, which reportedly killed senior Iranian military commanders and damaged nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Iran unleashed waves of drone and missile attacks on Israeli cities, marking one of the most direct and intense exchanges of fire between the longtime adversaries in decades.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, warned Saturday that “Tehran will burn” if Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, continues to authorize missile attacks against Israeli civilians.
While no Filipinos have been reported hurt so far, both the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have activated crisis response teams. They are coordinating closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine embassies in the region.
In Israel, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv has also reactivated its crisis management team and urged Filipinos to heed security protocols issued by the Israel Defense Forces and the Embassy’s safety advisories.
“The Embassy urges the Filipino community to remain alert, follow all security guidelines, and be ready to act,” the embassy said in an advisory. For urgent concerns, Filipinos in Israel may contact the Embassy’s 24/7 emergency hotline at +972 54 4661188 or email telaviv.pe@dfa.gov.ph.
Based on DFA figures, approximately 30,742 Filipinos live and work in Israel, while at least 1,180 Filipinos are in Iran, many of whom are married to Iranian nationals.
Officials say contingency plans for evacuation are ready should the situation deteriorate further, with priority given to areas directly affected by airstrikes and missile attacks.
The Philippine government reiterated its call for the Filipino community to stay vigilant and to report any emergencies immediately through official channels.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
