ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Government has accounted for 149 Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) currently based in Israel and other Middle East countries, amid lingering tensions in the region. This is according to a monitoring report by the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) as of July 1.
Of the total, 108 OFWs are working in Israel, with 11 of them reporting they are located in unsafe or war-affected areas, including Tel Aviv.
However, none of the 11 has signified their intent to be repatriated, said PESO-Iloilo Manager Cynthia Dario, noting that “tensions in the area have reportedly eased.”
The remaining 41 OFWs are spread across other Middle Eastern countries such as Kuwait (9), Qatar (14), Iraq (1), Iran (1), Saudi Arabia (8), United Arab Emirates (5), and Bahrain (3).
Distribution of OFWs from Iloilo
The 108 OFWs from Israel hail from the following municipalities: Janiuay (4), Leganes (3), Maasin (12), Oton (4), Pototan (3), San Joaquin (2), Zarraga (16), Concepcion (1), Batad (2), Lambunao (2), Barotac Nuevo (1), Igbaras (8), Dueñas (2), Cabatuan (5), Balasan (2), Anilao (1), Badiangan (4), Passi City (2), Guimbal (1), Leon (14), Tubungan (11), Dingle (7), and Alimodian (1).
The 11 OFWs who reported being in conflict zones came from Leganes (1), Maasin (1), Pototan (2), Zarraga (1), Igbaras (1), Leon (4), and Dingle (1).
Meanwhile, OFWs from other Middle Eastern countries were traced to Barotac Viejo (4), Cabatuan (1), Janiuay (24), Maasin (4), Miag-ao (2), Zarraga (1), and Sara (5).
24/7 Monitoring and Emergency Hotlines
Dario emphasized that PESO-Iloilo will continue to monitor the status of OFWs in the region as long as necessary. Emergency hotlines remain operational 24/7 through the provincial government’s Task Force “Bulig Ilonggo,” a program established via Executive Order No. 004, series of 2020, to support OFWs and their families in war- or crisis-prone areas.
Relatives or OFWs themselves may reach out through the following numbers:
* 0998-990-5663
* 0917-754-3833
* 0961-680-4428
* 0916-758-3156
These hotlines can be used to report or request updates on the condition of OFWs affected by the Israel-Iran conflict./PN
