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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solons worry over OFWs' welfare amid Middle East conflict

Solons worry over OFWs' welfare amid Middle East conflict

Published Mar 1, 2026 10:53 pm

At A Glance

  • Members of the House of Representatives are calling on the Marcos administration to do everything it can to ensure the safety of the more than 2.4 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict there.
(Unsplash)
(Unsplash)

Members of the House of Representatives are calling on the Marcos administration to do everything it can to ensure the safety of the more than 2.4 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict there.
In particular, Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula sought appropriate action from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Nazal, in a statement Sunday, March 1, asked the two agencies to make sure that evacuation protocols, repatriation funds, and emergency assistance are ready for immediate activation.
He also urged the DFA to maintain round-the-clock coordination with Philippine posts and Filipino communities abroad.
“Every embassy must be crisis-ready. Every repatriation fund must be accessible. Every OFW must feel the full protection of the Philippine government,” he said.
Nazal, an assistant minority leader, says he is prepared to support additional resources or urgent policy measures in Congress, if necessary, to strengthen protection and response mechanisms for OFWs.
“When tensions rise, our responsibility must rise even higher. No Filipino will be abandoned. We will stand by our workers every step of the way,” he said.
Ismula, in a separate statement Sunday, condemned the escalating military strikes between the United States (US)-Israel and Iran.
"Mula kagabi, dumadami ang reports ng mga OFWs natin na in distress dahil sa sunod sunod na pagbobomba. Ang ating mga OFW na naghahanapbuhay para sa kanilang pamilya ang laging dehado at pinakanahihirapan; kailangang may agarang tulong mula sa ating gobyerno," she said.
(We have received distress calls from multiple OFW since the bombings last night. Our OFWs working for their families are always at a disadvantage and suffer the most; the government must step up to help.)
Ismula, a member of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, called for an immediate ceasefire to end the "forever wars" that destroy the lives of ordinary citizens and puts the futures of millions of children at risk.
She lamented that this act of war happened in the Holy Month of Ramadan wherein Muslims are obliged to observe peace and compassion for humankind.
"Nasa aking pagdadasal ang mga bata, nanay at pamilya sa Middle East, kasama ang ating mga kababayan. Sila ang mga pinaka-biktima sa bawat giyera. Ang kapayapaan ay kolektibong responsibilidad nating lahat at dapat protektahan natin mula sa mga gahaman,” Ismula added.
(The children, mothers and families in the Middle East, as well as our OFWs, are all in my prayers today. They are the most victimized in times of war and conflict. Peace is our collective responsibility and we should protect it from those who are greedy of power)
Citing DFA data, Nazal said an estimated 2,443,700 Filipinos are currently in the region, including 975,000 in the United the Arab Emirates (UAE), 813,000 in Saudi Arabia, 250,000 in Qatar, 211,000 in Kuwait, 56,000 in Bahrain, and 49,000 in Oman.
There are also 31,000 Filipinos in Israel, 41,600 in Jordan (including Palestine), 14,000 in Lebanon, 1,600 in Iraq, 800 in Iran, and 700 in Syria.
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