Hontiveros warns: Avoid complacency, secure OFWs amid worsening Israel-Iran conflict

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday urged Malacañang to avoid complacency amid worsening hostilities between Israel and Iran, and to prepare for the potential impact of armed conflict on millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.

Hontiveros warned that the "rapidly escalating conflict" could affect not only the estimated 29,473 Pinoys in Israel and 1,184 in Iran, but also the wider Filipino population of about 2.2 million in the Middle East - especially after Iran's recent threat of retaliation against American facilities or personnel in multiple countries throughout the region.

"The whole of government must prepare measures to safeguard OFWs in the region. Milyon-milyon ang Pilipinong maapektuhan kung sakaling lumala ang krisis sa Middle East. There is no room for complacency. Ano na nga ba ang kahandaan ng pamahalaan? May plano na nga ba para iligtas ang napakaraming OFW?" the senator asked.

The senator also asked if the alert level system being relied upon by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to warn OFWs in Israel and Iran is still adequate "given the almost daily escalations in violence and disruption in the two countries." The DFA, which issues warnings ranging from Alert Level 1 (signs of internal disturbance) to Alert Level 4 (mandatory evacuation and repatriation), has currently declared Alert Level 3 (voluntary repatriation) in Iran and Israel.

"Ang sabi ng DFA, hindi pa idineklara ang Alert Level 4 at hihintayin pa daw ang recommendation ng mga ambassadors. Meanwhile, many other European and Asian countries are already evacuating their citizens through remaining air and land routes. While it is important for the Pinoy community to remain calm, sana hindi tayo mag-eevacuate kung kailan huli na ang lahat," Hontiveros said.

She then called on the DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure that contingency plans are in place and that sufficient resources for mass evacuation, transport and care of hundreds or thousands of OFWs are ready, so that these plans could be implemented at a moment's notice.

The senator then emphasized that given the potential deadly and destructive effects of the Iran-Israel conflict, the government should make the safety of OFWs in the Middle East "an urgent national priority."

"Unahin natin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga OFW. Huwag tayo maging kampante at huwag natin balewalain ang panganib. Kung hindi, napakaraming kababayan natin ang maapektuhan at malaking panibagong krisis ito para sa buong bansa," Hontiveros concluded.

Hontiveros: Huwag pakampante, tiyaking ligtas ang OFWs sa gitna ng lumalalang sigalot ng Israel at Iran

Nanawagan si Senadora Risa Hontiveros sa Malacañang na huwag maging kampante sa gitna ng lumalalang tensyon sa pagitan ng Israel at Iran, at agad na maghanda para sa posibleng epekto ng sigalot sa milyun-milyong overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sa Gitnang Silangan.

Binigyang-diin ni Hontiveros na ang pagtindi ng gyera ay maaaring makaapekto hindi lamang sa tinatayang 29,473 na Pilipino sa Israel at 1,184 sa Iran, kundi pati na rin sa humigit-kumulang 2.2 milyong Pilipino sa Gitnang Silangan--lalo na at nagbanta ang Iran na babalikan nito ang mga pasilidad o personnel ng Amerika sa iba't ibang bansa sa rehiyon.

"The whole of government must prepare measures to safeguard OFWs in the region. Milyon-milyon ang Pilipinong maapektuhan kung sakaling lumala ang krisis sa Middle East. There is no room for complacency. Ano na nga ba ang kahandaan ng pamahalaan? May plano na nga ba para iligtas ang napakaraming OFW?" tanong ng senadora.

Itinanong din ng senadora kung sapat pa ba ang alert level system na ginagamit ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) upang balaan ang mga OFW sa Israel at Iran, lalo na sa harap ng halos araw-araw na karahasan at kaguluhan sa dalawang bansa. Ang DFA, na nagbibigay ng babala mula Alert Level 1 (mga senyales ng internal disturbance) hanggang Alert Level 4 (sapilitang paglikas at repatriation), ay kasalukuyang nagdeklara ng Alert Level 3 (boluntaryong repatriation) sa Iran at Israel.

"Ang sabi ng DFA, hindi pa idineklara ang Alert Level 4 at hihintayin pa daw ang recommendation ng mga ambassadors. Meanwhile, many other European and Asian countries are already evacuating their citizens through remaining air and land routes. While it is important for the Pinoy community to remain calm, sana hindi tayo mag-eevacuate kung kailan huli na ang lahat," ayon kay Hontiveros.

Nanawagan din ang senadora sa DFA at Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) na tiyaking may malinaw na contingency plan, at sapat na resources para sa malawakang evacuation, transportasyon at pag-aalaga sa daan-daan o libo-libong OFWs, sakaling kinakailangan itong gawin.

Binigyang-diin ng senadora na sa harap ng posibleng malawakang pinsala at panganib na dulot ng sigalot ng Iran at Israel, nararapat lamang na gawing "agarang pambansang prayoridad" ang kaligtasan ng mga OFW sa Gitnang Silangan.

"Unahin natin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga OFW. Huwag tayo maging kampante at huwag natin balewalain ang panganib. Kung hindi, napakaraming kababayan natin ang maapektuhan at malaking panibagong krisis ito para sa buong bansa," pagtatapos ni Hontiveros.