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Senate OKs resolution calling for swift government action to protect OFWs, mitigate economic impact of Middle East conflict
Senate OKs resolution calling for swift government action to protect OFWs, mitigate economic impact of Middle East conflict
At A Glance
- The Senate has adopted a resolution that called on the Philippine government to take immediate and decisive steps to ensure the safety, protection and repatriation of Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East amid escalating tensions and conflict in the region.
The Senate has adopted a resolution that called on the Philippine government to take immediate and decisive steps to ensure the safety, protection and repatriation of Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East amid escalating tensions and conflict in the region.
Senate Resolution No. 325, which was later adopted as Resolution No. 41, was adopted on March 3, 2026, Tuesday, with all members of the Senate in support of the resolution, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said.
The resolution expresses the sense of the Senate urging the Philippine government to immediately implement measures for the protection and repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and to adopt interventions to mitigate the resulting economic impacts on the Philippine economy.
The resolution also called on all parties to prioritize the lives of civilians and comply with international humanitarian law. It also asks the government to adopt interventions to mitigate the resulting economic impacts of the conflict on the country’s economy.
“They (government) must implement and expand monitoring and welfare measures,” which Pangilinan said must include a verified list of all Filipino tourists, workers and their families locations and contact information, regular welfare check-ins, mandatory reporting and deployment lists, and updated contingency plans for possible evacuation, temporary shelters, and repatriation pathways.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said he supports the resolution but clarified that he didn’t sign the earlier version of the document due to concerns an immediate blanket call for repatriation could unintentionally create anxiety among employers and workers and disrupt ongoing diplomatic and labor arrangements.
Moreover, he said the government should take into account the real-life situations faced by Filipino workers and their employeres abroad.
To address this concern, Cayetano introduced an amendment in the resolution clarifying that repatriation should be undertaken only “in necessary situations.”
The amendment was read by Pangilinan who sponsored the resolution.
In pushing for amendments, Cayetano sought to align the language of the resolution with the updated alert level system implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), ensuring that the Senate’s position reflects the same protocols used by Philippine embassies and consulates in assessing security risks and responding to crises in the region.
Cayetano cited his experience as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2018, insisting that crisis responses involving Filipinos overseas must be guided by the assessments of diplomats and government personnel on the ground, who are in direct contact with OFWs, their employers, and host governments.
He noted that OFWs across Israel, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) play vital roles both in their host economies and in supporting their families in the Philippines through remittances.
He also underscored the importance of ensuring that government resources intended for the protection of Filipinos abroad are fully mobilized during crises, including the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the AKSYON Fund of the Department of Migrant Workers, which are specifically allocated to assist distressed OFWs and Filipinos overseas.
Sen. Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV, for his part, said he supports the measure due to the fact that “instability threatens to place Filipino lives and livelihoods at serious risk given the expanding geographic scope of armed engagements and airspace closures that have disrupted travel and daily life.”
“It is incumbent upon the Philippine Government to ensure that mechanisms are in place to monitor, assist, evacuate, and repatriate Filipinos in conflict-affected areas when necessary,” Aquino said.
“The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) should be ready to provide all the necessary support to our returning OFWs,” he also said.