AS tensions escalate in the Middle East and concerns grow for millions of migrant workers in the region, AGIMAT Party-list Representative Bryan Revilla is calling for a whole-of-government response to ensure the safety and protection of Overseas Filipino Workers.
Revilla, Chairperson of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, will convene a joint briefing with key government agencies to assess the situation on the ground and ensure that contingency and repatriation plans are ready should the conflict intensify.
The lawmaker said the meeting aims to secure updated information from key government agencies on the condition of Filipinos in the region and the government’s readiness to respond to potential emergencies.
Revilla emphasized that during periods of regional instability, the Philippine government must remain vigilant and ready to act swiftly to protect its citizens abroad, particularly migrant workers who may be exposed to heightened security risks.
“Naririnig natin ang mga panawagan ng ating mga kababayan at nakikita rin natin ang mga video na kumakalat ngayon, mga larawan ng takot at pangamba ng ating mga OFW sa Gitnang Silangan. Hindi ito malayong kuwento; ito ay tunay at nangyayari ngayon. Kaya kailangang kumilos agad ang pamahalaan upang matiyak ang kanilang kaligtasan,” Revilla said.
Revilla stressed that safeguarding the welfare of OFWs must remain a national priority, particularly during times of geopolitical uncertainty.
“Our government has always placed great importance on the protection of Filipinos abroad, and in moments like this, it is vital that we continue working together to ensure the safety and well-being of our kababayan in the region,” Revilla said.
Revilla also underscored the need for long-term support systems for returning migrant workers, pointing to House Bill No. 6643, or the Bagong Balikbayan Act, which he principally authored and which is currently pending in the Senate.
“The Bagong Balikbayan Act was designed precisely for moments like this—to ensure that when crises force our OFWs to return home, the government has a clear roadmap not only for their safe repatriation but also for their full reintegration into the Philippine economy,” Revilla explained.
While reiterating his support for the measure’s swift passage, Revilla emphasized that the government’s immediate priority is the safety and protection of Filipinos currently in the region.
