Senators Raffy, Erwin Tulfo flag 'unreachable' DMW, DFA, OWWA offices in Middle East

Senators Raffy and Erwin Tulfo raised concern Thursday about the supposed difficulty of contacting certain Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) offices in the Middle East amid the escalating tension in the region. 

During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, panel chairperson Raffy Tulfo said that he has been receiving complaints from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that no personnel from the DMW, OWWA, and DFA are answering calls on their hotlines or phones. 

“In fairness to you guys, baka overwhelmed kayo, nabi-busy ang hotlines. Kaso sinasabi, ring nang ring lang daw,” Raffy said. 

(In fairness to you guys, maybe you’re just overwhelmed and the hotlines are busy. But complainants say the phone just kept on ringing and ringing.) 

“Also, Secretary [Cacdac], meron ding mga comments na nauna pa ‘yung mga tauhan ng DMW, OWWA na mag-absent, huwag nang pumasok. Samantalang sila, mga OFWs, pumapasok dahil ‘yun ang utos ng kanilang amo. Samantalang ‘yung mga nasa embahada, nasa DMW at OWWA, eh wala na, nagsitaguan na,” he added. 

(Also, Secretary, there were also comments that DMW and OWWA personnel were the first to be absent and not go to work. While the OFWs themselves have to go to work because their employers asked them to. While those who work in embassies, at DMW and OWWA, are nowhere to be found or have gone into hiding.) 

In response, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said that he will look into the matter. He said he will also have the human resource teams identify the personnel who are absent amid the conflict in the Middle East. 

He, however, emphasized that he has already instructed all concerned DMW offices in the Middle East to be in full operation since the tensions rose. 

“Definitely, Mr. Chair. Ang instructions po ngayon, all hands on deck. Those are my exact words… Walang maga-absent. Everybody should be there, everybody should be working on the ground. This is not the time to be absent,” Cacdac answered. 

(Definitely, Mr. Chair. The instructions were—all hands on deck. Those are my exact words... No one should be absent. Everybody should be there, everybody should be working on the ground. This is not the time to be absent.) 

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Conflict in the Middle East (March 5, 2026)

Erwin, meanwhile, said that Philippine government personnel in the Middle East who are afraid and could not properly provide service to the distressed OFWs should resign instead. 

“Kailangan po kayo ngayon ipakita niyo ‘yung inyong trabaho. Kung natatakot kayo, lumayas kayo diyan, mag-resign kayong lahat, wala naman po kayong mga silbi,” the younger Tulfo said. 

(Now you need to show that you are working. If you are afraid, get out of there, all of you should resign since you are useless.) 

“Pumasok kayo sa OWWA, made-deploy ka sa abroad. Kung may giyera, ano ngayon? Pati kayo mag-tatago, wala tayong magagawa. ‘Yan ang trabaho na pinili ninyo, so panindigan na ninyo. Mag trabaho kayo ngayon, kailangan na kailangan na kayo ng mga OFW,” he added. 

(You entered the OWWA so you will be deployed abroad. If there is a war, so what? If you hide, we can't do anything. That is the job you chose, so stand up for it. Go to work now, the OFWs need you.) 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier said more than 1,000 Filipinos had requested repatriation amid the conflict. The DMW later clarified that the figure included non-OFWs and tourists.

Marcos also called on all parties involved in the Middle East tensions to exercise restraint and expressed hope for a swift ceasefire.

Filipinos in need of assistance may contact OWWA through the following emergency hotlines: Metro Manila — 1348; Regional — 02-1348; Viber — +63-915-079-5005 (Globe), +63-969-169-7068 (Smart), +63-966-473-9543 (Globe).

— RSJ, GMA Integrated News