Israel OFWs still opting to stay, says DMW

DESPITE Hamas attacks on Israel’s northern and southern borders, a large majority of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there remained hesitant to seek repatriation being offered by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

“Many of our OFWs in Israel have been there for a long time. They are already used to the culture and tradition there. This is likely why they are still choosing to stay there,” In DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a radio interview.

Add to this, he said, is the fact that majority of OFWs there are working as caregivers, “so they have this responsibility to care for the elders.”

There are around 30,000 OFWs in Israel with a large majority employed as caregivers.

A total of 184 OFWs have been repatriated, in six batches. A seventh batch is set for arrival today, the DMW said.

“To date, we have 37 OFWs onboard this flight,” said DMW in an advisory.

Cacdac said they will continue to offer the repatriation program to all OFWs in Israel.

“The numbers of those seeking repatriation are still going up so our efforts will just continue,” he said.

Repatriation will continue to be offered to OFWs in other conflict-hit areas.

Cacdac said nine OFWs from Lebanon are expected to arrive in the country later in the week. Twenty OFWs from Lebanon have returned.

In the West Bank, Cacdac said, they are expecting four OFWs to be repatriated soon. Two OFWs from the West Bank have been brought home.

As for those in the Gaza Strip, the DMW said they continue to rely on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the matter.

The DFA said 41 Filipinos were set to arrive in Manila at around 10 p.m. Sunday from Egypt after exiting war-torn Gaza.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said included in the group are seven Palestinian spouses of Filipinas.

“They are arriving in Manila tonight aboard Qatar Airways QR 928 arriving at 10:10 PM.

One of them is an OFW,” he said in a Viber message.

Expected to arrive on Tuesday are 14 more Filipinos, with five Palestinian spouses.

“Today at the Rafah crossing, about 10-15 Filipinos are expected to cross. That will put the number of Filipinos who have left Gaza past the 100 mark,” De Vega added.

The Rafah