Gov't to help workers waiting for deployment to Israel

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12) — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have assured Filipinos scheduled for deployment to Israel that they will get assistance from the government, DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said Thursday.

In a briefing, Cacdac said the government learned about a group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in a Middle Eastern country after leaving Manila for Israel on Oct. 7 or 8, when the militant group Hamas launched its attack.

The Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel has restricted aircraft entry, Cacdac said.

«In this scenario, (OWWA) Administrator Arnell (Ignacio) and I agreed for the DMW-OWWA to provide assistance, 'yong ating (the) action fund will be mobilized to assist those who have been stranded due to the current situation,» he said.

«Even those who are still here, 'yong may mga OECs (those with Overseas Employment Certificates), approved contracts, and visas, tutulungan namin sila (we will help them),» the DMW officer-in-charge said.

The policy was implemented during the conflict in Sudan in April when Filipinos were evacuated from the North African nation, Cacdac said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has placed Israel under Alert Level 2, whereby non-essential movement for Filipinos is restricted and there will be no new deployment of workers.

Cacdac said DMW is coordinating with Israel's Population and Immigration Authority to «firm up the number» of OFWs unable to leave the Philippines for Israel.

For those reportedly stranded, Cacdac said, «They are not too many, they are a handful.»

He noted that the deployment for caregivers to Israel has been suspended since October, and officials believe most of the affected Filipinos are employed as hotel workers.

Meanwhile, livelihood aid, reintegration assistance, and psychosocial help will be provided to returning OFWs, the DMW official said. The specifics of assistance have yet to be announced.

Cacdac said 22 Filipinos in Israel are seeking repatriation, while foreign affairs officials said 70 Filipinos in Gaza are requesting the same. The government has raised Alert Level 3 in Gaza, which