OFW repatriation continues, shelters open as Israel alert level drops

MANILA, July 2 ------ The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured the public that repatriation efforts for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel will continue, even as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has lowered the conflict alert level from 3 to 2.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, said the agency is committed to assisting those who wish to come home, those choosing to stay and those preparing to return to their employers. “We know for sure na meron tayong at least 50 na na-i-shelter sa Israel. We are operating two shelters in Israel. Meron pang nakahandang dalawang shelters pero with a ceasefire that is holding, mukhang hindi na madalagadan pa ang ating stayer sa ating operated shelters,” Cacdac said.

DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay said the four government-operated shelters, including the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) shelter in Tel Aviv and two rented flats, remain open for distressed OFWs, housing at least 17 persons while standby capacity remains for up to 50 people.

In addition to shelters, nearly 300 OFWs have received food packs, hygiene kits and direct financial aid. “Those who were directly displaced and directly affected, and nawalan sila ng trabaho, nagbigay din po tayo ng financial assistance onsite, equivalent to USD200,” Bay said. She also added that they regularly check on the 431 OFWs. “In the sense na inaalam po natin ano ang kanilang kalagayan, kung sila ay may mga pangalailangan at how we can facilitate their return to their respective employers assuming ready na po ang employer na sila ay manumbalik sa trabaho,” she added.

On repatriation, Bay said that 26 OFWs were repatriated on June 24, with another 31 scheduled to arrive in batches from July 2 to 5. Additional repatriation trips are being arranged for those still choosing to return home. Bay said195 OFWs who initially requested repatriation are now having “second thoughts," following a ceasefire that has eased the security situation.

Bay said the DMW has already received fresh inquiries from OFWs ready to return to work. Cacdac said under Alert Level 2, returning OFWs are now allowed to go back to their employers in Israel if conditions permit, but new hires, including government-to-government deployed workers, remain covered by the deployment ban for now. The previous Level 3 meant voluntary repatriation.

Source: pna.gov.ph