At least 50 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are confirmed for voluntary repatriation from Israel, according to Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola.
“Our request is a total of 253 for repatriation. We have confirmed 50 who will be repatriated next,” Mendiola said.
Twenty-six OFWs have already been escorted out through the Jordanian border.
The repatriation process follows another round of missile alerts that forced Filipinos in affected areas to rush into bomb shelters.
Despite the danger, many OFWs are reluctant to return home due to economic concerns.
“One of the difficulties we faced was that some of our fellow Filipinos kept changing their minds because when they return, it means the end of their contract,” Mendiola said.
Israel’s Home Front Command recently reimposed strict mobility restrictions following renewed conflict now involving the United States.
Mendiola said the restrictions halted work, school, and public gatherings, severely affecting Filipino caregivers.
Of 127 displaced OFWs, 118 have already been resettled by Israeli authorities.
Thirty-two OFWs were also evacuated from a nursing home that was hit by collateral damage.
Mendiola said all 32 were safe after entering a ground shelter during the strike.
She confirmed that internet and telephone lines remain operational in Israel, allowing families in the Philippines to stay in contact with their loved ones.
Iran and Israel are both under Alert Level 3, which triggers the voluntary repatriation phase under Philippine government protocol.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro on Monday assured that returning OFWs will receive assistance.
Castro added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to ensure returning workers are supported through reintegration programs.
The president is also meeting with his economic team to evaluate the impact of the Israel-Iran conflict on the Philippine economy.
A total of P2.5 billion has been allocated for fuel subsidies to cushion any economic fallout from the regional tension.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Sunday the first batch of 26 OFWs are expected to arrive in the Philippines by Tuesday, June 24.
DMW Secretary Leo Hans Cacdac said the department and other government agencies are providing financial assistance and reintegration support for returning OFWs, including those displaced from their jobs due to the conflict. – With Vito Barcelo
