PH bans deployment of workers to Israel

CITING the danger from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) banned the deployment of Filipino workers to Israel..

“No deployment as of now,” said Department of Migrant Workers (DMEW) officer-in-charge Leo Hans Cacdac on Tuesday, adding that focus is now on the security concerns of Filipinos in Israel, particularly in Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv, among other areas.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)

Cacda said the government is ready to implement mandatory evacuation and repatriation of Filipinos in Israel who wanted to go home if the need arises.

“We are just waiting for the advisory of the government of Israel. We need to balance the situation based on the advisory because if we talk of mass repatriation, we have to factor in the safety and security concerns,:” Cacdac said in Filipino.

“At the right time, in coordination with Israeli authorities, we will evacuate and repatriate those who wanted to go home,” he said.

According to Cacdac, the majority of Filipinos in Gaza Strip were not overseas workers but were wives of Palestinians, adding that they too, including their families, wanted to be repatriated if the need would arise.

He also assured families of Filipinos in conflict-hit areas that they were safe and being taken care of by the Philippine Embassy in an undisclosed, secured shelter.

“Those who were rescued by the Philippine Embassy are being taken care of by welfare officers and labor attache.They are in undisclosed rescue areas and being provided with needed assistance,” Cacdac further said.

As to the case of the seven missing Filipino workers, Cacdac said that their families have been informed about the situation in Israel.

Cacdac said all seven missing OFWs have been identified, including one who was reportedly taken hostage by the Hamass.