Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III on Sunday night expressed serious concern over the escalating tensions in Iran and the broader Middle East, assuring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that their safety remains a top national priority.
“We are closely monitoring developments in Iran and the broader Middle East with serious concern for the safety and welfare of our countrymen in the region, particularly our hardworking overseas Filipino workers,” he said in a statement.
Dy underscored the vital role of OFWs in nation-building, noting that their contributions sustain not only their families but also the Philippine economy.
He also commended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for ordering government agencies to immediately account for Filipinos in affected areas and activate contingency measures as tensions continue to rise.
“We acknowledge and commend the decisive actions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in directing concerned government agencies to determine the whereabouts of Filipinos in the Middle East, to take immediate steps to ensure their safety, and to activate contingency measures as tensions escalate following recent developments in the region,” Dy said.
He called on the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers to ensure that all contingency plans are in place and responsive. At the same time, Dy urged Filipinos in affected areas to remain vigilant and heed official advisories from the Philippine government.
“Nananawagan din tayo sa ating mga kababayan sa mga apektadong lugar na manatiling mag-ingat at sumunod sa mga opisyal na abiso ng ating pamahalaan (We also call on our fellow Filipinos in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the official advisories of our government),” he said.
As uncertainty grips parts of the Middle East, Dy expressed hope for a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the crisis.
“We continue to hope for a peaceful resolution of tensions and firmly reaffirm that the safety and protection of our people will always be our foremost priority,” he said.
