The government is ready to assist Filipinos in the Middle East, with funds already allocated and agencies on standby as 1,416 nationals have requested repatriation amid escalating tensions in the region, Senator Erwin Tulfo said on Tuesday.
Tulfo noted that the Senate previously augmented the budgets of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to prepare for possible emergencies affecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“We added 1.3 billion sa pondo ng DMW… 800 million sa Office of the Secretary at 500 million sa OWWA (We added P1.3 billion to the DMW fund… P800 million to the Office of the Secretary and P500 million to OWWA),” Tulfo said during a press briefing.
He also dismissed claims that authorities were unprepared to respond to the situation.
“Naka-ready naman ang ating government agencies. Mali po ‘yung sinasabi na hindi ready, hindi nakahanda (Our government agencies are ready. It is wrong to say that we are not ready or not prepared),” the senator said.
According to updates from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the breakdown of repatriation requests is as follows: 10 Filipinos in Iran, 297 in Israel, 22 in Jordan, 231 in Bahrain, 586 in Dubai, and 270 in Abu Dhabi.
Tulfo acknowledged that ongoing airspace closures have temporarily affected evacuation efforts.
However, flights from Abu Dhabi to Manila are expected to operate, with Emirates Airlines accommodating returning OFWs.
The senator said he has been receiving regular updates from DFA officials since Sunday to monitor the situation.
“Since Sunday morning, I asked a briefing through phone kay Secretary Tess Lazaro… Binibigyan niya ako ng update around 6 in the morning, tapos isa naman sa afternoon (Since Sunday morning, I asked for a briefing by phone from Secretary Tess Lazaro… She gives me updates around 6 in the morning and another one in the afternoon),” Tulfo said.
He added that coordination among agencies continues to ensure the safe and orderly return of Filipinos who wish to come home. (with reports from PNA)
Photo from DMW
