THE House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, under the chairmanship of Rep. Ron Salo, convened today, 18 April 2024, a briefing to assess the government’s contingency plans for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the face of rising tensions in the Middle East.
“Under the directive of Speaker Romualdez, we convened to ensure that our contingency plans are watertight and responsive to the potential crises our OFWs in the Middle East may face,” Salo stated.
“It is not just our mandate, but our moral duty, to safeguard our kababayans abroad,” adds Salo.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), represented by Undersecretary De Vega, communicated that while the specifics of the contingency plan must remain confidential for security reasons, they are diligently coordinating with other government agencies via the One-Country Team Approach (OCTA).
Philippine Ambassadors from Middle Eastern countries were also present during the session via Zoom to provide updates on the situation on the ground. H.E. Pedro Laylo from Tel Aviv, Israel, H.E. Raymond Balatbat from Beirut, Lebanon, H.E. Wilfredo Santos from Amman, Jordan, and H.E. Ezzedin Tago from Cairo, Egypt, each reaffirmed their commitment to the welfare of OFWs.
OIC Secretary Hans Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), along with representatives from Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), pledged swift assistance for OFWs, particularly those in need of repatriation.
Highlighting the nation’s readiness, the DFA gave the country’s preparedness a confidence rating of 9 out of 10, stating that the government has continuously refined its response mechanisms, drawing from extensive experience in managing similar crises previously.
The Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), a private stakeholder in attendance, praised the government’s proactive stance and its efforts in engaging leaders of Filipino communities and organizations in these nations of concern in their crisis management strategies on the ground.
The hearing, attended by fellow House Members, Bureau of Immigration (BI), Department of Department of National Defense (DND), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), OFW groups, and recruitment agencies, concluded with a reinforced sense of readiness and collaboration.
“I feel relieved and assured that our agencies, primarily tasked with ensuring the safety of our kababayans, have affirmed that a contingency plan is in place in the event of war in the Middle East. Furthermore, this plan is shared with and supported by all other agencies, is consistent with the pertinent laws of the host states, and is properly communicated with our Filipino communities,” Salo stated.
“Today’s gathering demonstrated a united front in our resolve to ensure the safety of OFWs, especially in crisis areas. It is this type of whole-of-government, whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach that reflects our commitment to our kababayans,” concluded Rep. Salo.
