DAVAO CITY – Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao-Eastern (OPAMINE) Leo Tereso A. Magno is closely coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for the safety of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) caught in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Following the attack last week by Palestinians on Israel, Magno immediately contacted DMW Undersecretary Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones to count the number of Filipino workers currently employed in Israel from Eastern Mindanao.
Magno said that his office is coordinating with the DMW to ensure the well-being and protection of the OFWs trapped in the conflict. He added that the Philippines is one of the countries that disapproved of the assault on Israel.
There are 5,243 Filipino workers deployed in Israel from 2021 to August this year, 138 of whom are from Mindanao and 122 from Regions 10, 11, 12, and 13.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Israel is home to 26,558 Filipinos, comprising permanent residents, documented individuals, undocumented migrants, and workers.
“The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is already doing its best to secure Filipinos in Israel,” Magno said, adding that the DMW has established hotline numbers for Filipinos seeking government aid, following the Chief Executive’s order to ensure the safety and welfare of OFWs in Israel.
Marcos also ordered government agencies to closely coordinate with the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Israel to secure the Filipinos affected by the conflict.
The President has directed the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to actively search for and ensure the registration of all Filipino workers and their families residing in Israel.
According to the most recent update from the DFA, Israeli security forces have successfully rescued 22 Filipinos. At the same time, seven individuals remain missing and could not be reached through their mobile phones or social media accounts.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ "The Source," Israel Ambassador to the Philippines, Ilan Fluss, vowed to safeguard the well-being of Filipinos in the same manner as his own citizens amid the conflict.
Over 700 Israelis, including children and the elderly, have been killed in the conflict.
Fluss said more than 100 were held captive by the attackers. He added that Israel has selected thousands of reservists, including his children, to help defend the state.