The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is now preparing the repatriation flight for at least 26 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel as the government further intensified the efforts to provide assistance amid the increasing number of Filipinos seeking to go back home.

Both the DMW and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are preparing for worst case scenarios, especially after the United States joined Israel in dropping bombs on Iran on Sunday, June 22.

From 85 OFWs in the first few days since the June 13 air assault of Israel on Iran, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the number of OFWs who signified interest to go back to the Philippines has now reached 223, the increase was recorded in the past few days.

Right now, Cacdac said their focus is to arrange the flight and extend all the necessary assistance to the 26 OFWs who will also be joined by three more Filipinos from Jordan who also asked to be repatriated.

“Many of them are agency-hired as caregivers or hotel workers. Some are long standing OFWs about 10 to 15 years while some are three to six years. But all of them wish to come home,” said Cacdac in a press briefing on Sunday night, June 22.

“Right now, they are all safe in their hotel accommodations in Amman (Jordan) and they are braced to be repatriated tomorrow (June 23),” he added.

He said all the necessary assistance was provided to the 26 OFWs from Israel as soon as they arrive in Jordan and Cacdac said the same assistance will be provided to 33 more OFWs who are preparing to exit Israel via Jordan.

But Cacdac said they expect that the number of Filipinos who expressed interest to go back to the Philippines will continue to rise in the coming days amid the worsening security situation after the US bombing of Iran.

Aside from Israel, Cacdac said they also received requests for repatriation from two OFWs in Iran.

There are around 30,000 Filipinos in Israel and 30 OFWs in Iran.

The 26 OFWs are expected to arrive in Manila on Tuesday. 

Shelters

Following the US-Israel bombings on Sunday, Iran immediately retaliated by firing a barrage of ballistic missiles to Israel.

Aside from repatriation, Cacdac said they are also providing assistance to the OFWs in Israel, which include providing shelters for OFWs during Iran’s missile attacks.

“Currently, we have four shelters in Israel. Two are operational and two are on standby,” said Cacdac.

Around 53 Filipinos, he said, are in the two shelters.

Cacdac said they are also providing food and other financial assistance to the OFWs in Israel. He added that they are also constantly checking on hospitals in Israel for medical assistance.

A total of eight Filipinos have been reported injured in Israel since the start of the conflict with Iran, one of them is still in a hospital. The other seven were already discharged.