DMW processing repatriation requests from 223 OFWs in Israel

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Sunday said it is processing repatriation requests from 223 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Israel, as well as seeing to the travel needs of 30 Filipinos making up the first batch of returnees.

In a press briefing on Sunday, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac shared that the group of 30 will include 26 OFWs who had arrived in Jordan after passing through the Allenby Bridge and King Hussein Bridge on Sunday morning.

The group of 26 will be joined by three other Filipinos from Jordan and another from the Israel-occupied West Bank, and will be accompanied home by Cacdac on a commercial flight set to arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday morning.

“Many of them also are longstanding OFWs, some about, should I say, 10 to 15 years in Israel and some three to six years in Israel, but all of them, of course, wish to come home… So rest assured, we will bring them home safely as directed by the President,” said Cacdac.

The repatriated OFWs will receive adequate assistance from the government upon arrival in the country, including P150,000 in financial assistance, TESDA training vouchers and allowances, psychosocial counseling, and post-arrival medical check-ups.

“We will provide this particular benefit upon arrival. It will stem the tide for them. It's a safety net for those who lost their jobs, at least temporarily, and [they] will receive some tulong-pinansyal, pantawid [financial aid to help them get by]…  Malaking bagay din to, di ba? Kasi maiibsan din yung gastusin ng mga dumadating [This is also a big deal, right? Because it will help with their costs when they arrive],” Cacdac added.

Israel launched air attacks on Iran on June 13, claiming that the Islamic Republic is on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran retaliated, hitting several areas in Israel, with the attacks between the two countries still continuing. On Sunday, Israel's ally the US bombed three nuclear sites in Iran.

Iran, which maintains that its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes, is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not.

Alert levels

Meanwhile, Cacdac noted that the alert levels raised by the Philippines on other countries are based on decisions from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and corresponding Philippine embassies in the area.

In response to the raised alert levels in Israel and Iran, DMW advised Filipinos not to proceed with planned trips in the affected areas.

“We rely on the DFA in terms of raising the alert level, so we will depend on the political security expertise of our dear colleagues at the DFA… What I can say however, tuloy ang tulong [the assistance continues] on the ground,” Cacdac said.

Iran and Israel are currently at Alert Level 3 following armed hostilities between the two countries.

The DFA advised Filipinos in either country to consider repatriation to avoid getting caught in hostile exchanges between the two Middle Eastern countries. — BM, GMA Integrated News