BACOLOD City — In response to the ongoing military crisis in parts of the Middle East, the Bacolod City Government and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental have activated separate help desks and hotlines to assist residents with family members and loved ones working abroad.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city government opened a dedicated help desk and hotline following reports of escalating tensions in the region.
He added that the city is closely coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families receive proper guidance, support, and necessary assistance.
“We are committed to helping ensure the safety and well-being of our fellow Bacolodnons. We encourage families who may need assistance to reach out to us,” Gasataya said.
Residents may call the dedicated hotline at 0930-877-5097 or visit the help desk located at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby.
As of March 2, records from the Bacolod City Help Desk show that seven residents have sought assistance after losing contact with their family members working in the Middle East. The concerned residents are from Barangays Tangub (1), Taculing (1), Mansilingan (1), Mandalagan (3), and Singcang-Airport (1).
Meanwhile, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has likewise activated its OFW Help Desk and hotline to assist Negrenses with relatives working in areas affected by the conflict.
In coordination with the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the provincial government said it is prepared to provide timely information, verified updates, and other forms of assistance to concerned families.
Those seeking assistance may contact the provincial hotlines at 0998-956-9037 or 0924-109-7705. The provincial OFW Help Desk is open at the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) located at the Provincial Capitol Building in Bacolod City.
Both city and provincial officials expressed hope and prayers for the safety of OFWs and their families as tensions continue to rise in parts of the Middle East.
On the national level, Senator Chiz Escudero proposed the activation of a coordinated Middle East Crisis Command Center to consolidate real-time monitoring, map out safe corridors, and pre-position evacuation assets in friendly ports or airports.
Escudero urged government agencies to intensify coordinated protection measures for Filipinos across the region, citing the more than 2.2 million Filipinos living and working in the Middle East, including over 1,100 currently in Iran who may be affected by escalating tensions following recent strikes in and around Iranian territory.
He stressed that the scale of the Filipino presence in the region demands an urgent and anticipatory response.
Escudero also acknowledged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the DMW to activate contingency plans and account for Filipinos in affected areas.
He noted that Saudi Arabia hosts over 865,000 Filipinos, the United Arab Emirates nearly 650,000, along with significant Filipino communities in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman that could be impacted by any regional spillover./PN
