PH welcomes Israel-Iran ceasefire, but says dialogue must continue

The Philippines, which has over 2 million Filipino migrants in the Middle East, on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreed upon by Israel and Iran but called for continued dialogue to permanently end the armed conflict between the two countries.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is "hopeful" that the temporary cease in hostilities "will be a crucial step towards achieving lasting peace in the region."

"We urge all parties concerned to continue engaging in dialogue and negotiations toward a permanent solution to this issue,” the DFA said.

The US-brokered ceasefire came into effect Monday following days of massive exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran, putting at risk over 31,000 Filipinos residing in the two Middle East states.

There are around 30,000 mostly Filipino caregivers in Israel and over 1,100 in Iran.

The Philippines is one of the world’s top labor-exporting nations, with about 10 million skilled and unskilled workers scattered abroad, exposing them to civil strife and armed conflict, abuses, and unfair labor practices.

Remittances from Filipino migrant workers constitute a significant source of the country’s foreign exchange, as they send home over $35 billion per year. 

Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, saying its longtime enemy was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Iran, which retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel, denied the accusation, saying the country’s nuclear program is peaceful. 

In a televised address, President Donald Trump said the US "obliterated" Iran's key nuclear facilities—Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow—over the weekend and called the strikes a "spectacular military success." 

The Philippine government is enforcing crisis alert level 3 in Israel and Iran, urging Filipinos in these countries to avail themselves of voluntary repatriation. — VBL, GMA Integrated News