ILOILO — Twenty-five overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Iloilo province have sought repatriation from the Middle East amid growing fears over the ongoing crisis in the region, even as more than 10,000 Ilonggo workers remain deployed there, according to the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO).
PESO–Iloilo Province manager Cynthia Dario said the workers had already reached out to the provincial government through their respective municipal PESO offices or through the agency’s hotline, reporting that they no longer feel safe due to escalating tensions and the threat of missile attacks near military installations.
“Gin-declare nila nga unsafe na gid sila, others say nga lapit sila sa US bases and experiencing fear because of sudden nga mga lukpanay every now and then,” Dario said.
Iran has been firing missiles to neighbors Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman , Jordan, and Syria after joint United States-Israel airstrikes killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The 25 Ilonggo OFWs who requested repatriation are currently employed in Bahrain (one), Israel (one), Jordan (three), Kuwait (seven), Qatar (four), Saudi Arabia (two), and the United Arab Emirates (seven).
Dario declined to disclose the specific municipalities where the workers come from to avoid causing unnecessary alarm among residents and their families.
In response to their request, the provincial PESO has already coordinated with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to facilitate the repatriation process.
“Na-submit namon sa DMW ang ila names para si DMW ang ma-take charge for repatriation,” Dario added.
However, she said the timeline for their return to the Philippines remains uncertain as the process depends on the DMW’s scheduling and prioritization system.
The 25 OFWs are part of the 10,647 Ilonggo workers currently deployed in the Middle East based on the profiling conducted by PESO–Iloilo Province.
Data from the provincial PESO showed the following breakdown of OFWs per municipality:
* Ajuy (200), Alimodian (246), Anilao (52), Badiangan (112), Balasan (317), Banate (297), Barotac Nuevo (441), Barotac Viejo (40), Batad (195), Bingawan (70), Cabatuan (595), Calinog (14), Carles (125)
* Concepcion (345), Dingle (420), Dueñas (402), Dumangas (647), Estancia (255), Guimbal (176), Igbaras (179), Janiuay (360), Lambunao (351), Leganes (88), Lemery (475), Leon (159), Maasin (282), Miag-ao (33)
* Mina (192), New Lucena (347), Oton (306), Passi City (618), Pavia (199), Pototan (515), San Dionisio (318), San Enrique (39), San Joaquin (118), San Miguel (129), San Rafael (109), Santa Barbara (75), Sara (254), Tigbauan (46), Tubungan (263), Zarraga (66), and 177 cases with unspecified municipalities./PN