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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Erwin Tulfo to gov't: Start 'recovery plan' for OFWs affected by Middle East airstrikes

Erwin Tulfo to gov't: Start 'recovery plan' for OFWs affected by Middle East airstrikes

Published Mar 1, 2026 01:04 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Erwin Tulfo has called on the government to start initiating recovery plans for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the airstrikes and war time disruptions in the Middle East.

Senator Erwin Tulfo has called on the government to start initiating recovery plans for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the airstrikes and war time disruptions in the Middle East.

Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
This, after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, was killed Saturday, during a massive US and Israeli attack.

Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) should initiate a recovery plan for Filipinos who are supposed to fly for work in the Middle East, but were stalled due to the escalation of military activities in the region.

“While we are concerned about our fellow Filipinos who are caught in the conflict in countries affected by the airstrikes in the Middle East, we also call on the DMW and OWWA to also give attention to Filipinos who were about to leave the country for work, but had to stay due to the ongoing unrest in the region,” said Tulfo.

“Most of these Filipinos come from the provinces. They have already spent money on requirements in the hope of securing decent opportunities in the Middle East,” he added.

Tulfo cited news reports where first-time OFWs from the provinces complained about the inconvenience and the effect of the airstrikes in the Middle East to their supposed employment abroad.

According to the OFWs supposedly bound for the Middle East, Philippine government agencies have yet to issue any notice to address their situation and their respective recruitment agencies have yet to provide a clear plan on their deployment.

The senator said the government should consider using the P2-billion Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund to provide relief to the affected OFWs.

“We are calling on the Department of Migrant Workers to give importance to our OFWs who are affected by this crisis as part of our commitment to protecting our workers,” he ended.

“We should exhaust all the remedies available for them not only on the financial aspect, but also for their mental health,” the lawmaker added.

Tulfo said his office will continuously ask the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the DMW for updates, including preparation and implementation of immediate repatriation plans for OFWs who wish to return home.

Related Tags

Erwin Tulfo Middle East Iran airstrikes Iran
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