DMW offices in Middle East on heightened alert amid Israel-Iran crisis

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has placed all of its offices across the Middle East on heightened alert as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise.

At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the directive came from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

"Naka-heightened alert po ngayon ang DMW. Lahat ng front offices lalo na ang Migrant Offices sa Israel, Jordan, Lebanon at iba pang bansa sa Middle East, dahil sila ang apektado sa kaguluhan," said Olalia.

(The DMW is on heightened alert. The order covers all of its front offices and Migrant Offices in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and other countries in the Middle East because these areas are affected by the conflict.)

"Nakahanda po ang DMW at ang OWWA sakaling mag-escalate po ang kaguluhan at 'yung regional conflict diyan ay lumawak pa. Hindi lang po ang Israel at Iran ang aming binabantayan kundi lahat ng Middle East countries," Olalia added, referring to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

(The DMW and OWWA are ready should the conflict escalate and the regional conflict spread. We are not just monitoring Israel and Iran, but all Middle East countries.)

All labor attachés and staff are now on 24/7 duty, with leaves canceled and hotlines fully operational round-the-clock.

"Walang holiday, walang weekend. Lahat ng hotlines may nakaantabay. Ready tayo for any emergency," Olalia said.

(No holidays, no weekends off. All hotlines are on standby. We are ready for any emergency.)

The DMW also activated its 24/7 hotline for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families:

• Within PH: 1348
• Outside PH: +63 2 1348

Olalia assured that contingency measures are in place should the situation worsen.

"Tayo po ay nakahanda na tumulong sa kanila, i-rescue sila at i-repatriate. Kami na po sa DMW ang bahalang magbayad sa airfare ninyo. Kami na rin sa accommodation ninyo. Kami na rin ang bahala kung cancelled ang commercial flights. Kokontakin din po namin ang mga pamilya niyo para kayo ay salubungin," he said.

(We are ready to assist, rescue, and repatriate affected OFWs. Let us say to them, the DMW will pay for your airfare and accommodations. We will also handle your transportation in case commercial flights are cancelled. We will contact your families to meet you upon arrival.)

Looking for routes

With both Israeli and Iranian airspace currently closed, the DMW is looking into alternative repatriation routes.

"Kung hindi puwede ang air repatriation, land repatriation po ang gagawin natin. 'Yung mga karatig na bansa na open po, siguraduhin lamang na ligtas sila—doon tayo dadaan by virtue of humanitarian travel ng ating OFWs," Olalia said.

(If air repatriation is not possible, then we will do it by land through neighboring countries. We just have to make sure that the routes will be safe by virtue of humanitarian travel for OFWs.)

He noted that several Filipinos may be stranded due to airspace shutdown. In Israel alone, 85 OFWs are already on standby for repatriation—not because of the recent conflict, but because they have completed their contracts.

OFWs in Israel

According to the DMW, around 20,000 Filipinos are currently in Israel—13,000 of whom are documented workers, while over 6,000 are undocumented.

"Most work as caregivers, hotel workers, or in agriculture, service, and manufacturing sectors," said Olalia.

In contrast, fewer than 100 Filipinos remain in Iran, mostly permanent residents who have married Iranian citizens. No new deployments have been made there for years.

Olalia said there is no new deployment ban in Israel. Since October 2023, however, the country has been under Alert Level 3 status, meaning first-time workers are not allowed to go to Israel, except only for returning workers.

"We do not allow new hires. Ibig sabihin 'yung first-timer po ay hindi papayagan kahit pa noong bago sumiklab ang kaguluhan na ito. Hindi na po pinapayagan ang first-timers na ngayon pa lang pupunta doon. Ang pinapayagan lang po ay 'yung mga tinatawag nating returning workers or balik-manggagawa. Doon sa Iran, matagal na tayong walang deployment doon," Olalia said.

(We do not allow new hires. This means first-timers will not be allowed even if their engagement was made before the conflict. This is the same for those arriving for the first time. Only returning workers are allowed. We have not had an OFW deployment in Iran for a long time now.)

Caution

In a joint advisory on Saturday, the DMW and OWWA called on OFWs in affected areas to stay in safe places whenever possible and to keep communication lines with Philippine authorities open.

"Mahalaga pong manatiling ligtas, manatili muna sa loob ng bahay kung delikado sa inyong lugar, at manatiling konektado sa ating mga opisina para sa agarang update," the advisory read.

(It is important to stay safe, stay indoors if it is dangerous in your area, and stay connected to our offices for immediate updates.)

"Hinihingi rin namin ang inyong pakikiisa na iwasang mag-share ng mga impormasyong hindi kumpirmado para maiwasan ang kalituhan," it added.

(We also ask for your cooperation in refraining from sharing unconfirmed information to avoid confusion.)

Support for PH homecoming

For OFWs hesitant to return home due to employment concerns, the DMW offered assurances of support through its reintegration program.

"Mayroon po tayong isang programa diyan, 'yung tinatawag nating full-cycle reintegration. Kung saan TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment), DTI (Department of Trade and Industry)—lahat ng ahensya ay tutulong para una, bigyan kayo ng kakayahan o 'yung upskilling na tinatawag kung gusto niyo magtrabaho sa ibang bansa na puwede," the DMW official said. 

(We have a program for full-cycle reintegration, wherein TESDA, DOLE, DTI, and other agencies work together to provide OFWs with the skills or upskilling, if you want to work in another country.)

"Pangalawa, kung nais niyo maghanapbuhay, mayroon pong livelihood tayo—may training diyan at tutulungan po namin kayo sa lahat ng inputs na kakailanganin. Doon naman po sa pagbibigay ng local employment dito, ire-refer po namin kayo sa mga LGUs (local government units) at kami na po ang bahala na maghanap ng trabaho sa inyo," said Olalia.

(Secondly, we have a livelihood program wherein the government provides required inputs. Meanwhile, for those seeking local employment in the Philippines, we will refer you to LGUs and we will help you get jobs here.)

Hotline numbers

Meanwhile, the DMW-OWWA announced their Viber/ WhatsApp hotline for text and calls amid the ongoing tension between Israel and Iran:

• +63 908 326 8344
• +63 927 147 8186
• +63 920 517 1059

The Migrant Workers Offices hotlines are as follows:

ISRAEL

• Embassy in Tel Aviv: +972 54 466 1188
• MWO: +972 50 762 2590
• OWO: +972 50 715 6937

LEBANON

• Embassy in Beirut: +961 70 858 086
• MWO: +961 79 110 729

JORDAN

• MWO: +962 7 8149 1183 / +962 7 8519 1891

As mentioned earlier in this report, DMW's 24/7 hotline numbers for OFWs and their families are as follows:

• Within PH: 1348
• Outside PH: +63 2 1348

 — with a report from Jamil Santos/ VDV, GMA Integrated News