AN urgent call was made by Senate Foreign Relations Panel Chairman, Sen. Erwin Tulfo for the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to initiate a recovery plan for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are supposed to depart for work in the Middle East, but were stalled due to the escalation of military activities in the region.
“While we are concerned about our fellow Filipinos who are caught in the conflict in countries affected by the airstrikes in the Middle East, we also call on the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to also give attention to Filipinos who were about to leave the country for work, but had to stay due to the ongoing unrest in the region. Most of these Filipinos come from the provinces. They have already spent money on requirements in the hope of securing decent opportunities in the Middle East,” Sen. Tulfo said.
Citing news reports, the senator said first-time OFWs from the provinces narrated the inconvenience and the effect of the airstrikes in the Middle East to their supposed, slated employment abroad.
The OFWs supposedly bound for the Middle East said that Philippine government agencies have yet to issue any notice to address their situation, while their respective recruitment agencies have yet to provide a clear plan on their deployment.
Sponsor of the DMW and OWWA’s budget for 2026, Sen. Erwin proposed the utilization of the P2 billion Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund to provide relief to the affected OFWs.
“We are calling on the Department of Migrant Workers to give importance to our Overseas Filipino Workers who are affected by this crisis as part of our commitment to protecting our workers. We should exhaust all the remedies available for them not only on the financial aspect, but also for their mental health,” he stressed.
Notably, as soon as the “major combat operations” started, Sen. Erwin Tulfo had stated: “My office is continuously in touch with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers in activating measures without delay, including the preparation and implementation of immediate repatriation plans for those who wish to return home.”
