ILOILO City – Deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Western Visayas to the Middle East has significantly slowed as conflict in the region forces authorities to tighten safety measures, with at least 260 workers already affected and repatriated, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Region 6 reported.
DMW-6 officer-in-charge regional director Glenda Aligonza said the situation has prompted heightened caution in sending workers abroad, citing risks to their safety.
“There are still risks in deploying our OFWs to those areas,” Aligonza said.
She clarified that deployment has not been totally suspended but is being carefully managed as authorities continuously assess conditions in host countries.
The slowdown underscores growing concerns over labor mobility as geopolitical tensions disrupt overseas employment opportunities, with the government prioritizing the welfare and security of Filipino workers.
“To date, we have 260 OFWs affected from Region 6 based on our official data,” Aligonza said.
Many of the affected workers have already been repatriated, prompting the government to intensify reintegration efforts through a multi-agency initiative dubbed “Bayanihan para sa Balik-Bayan Manggagawa: National Integration Network.”
“This is intended for our repatriated OFWs affected by the Middle East crisis. We are inviting them to join so we can help them transition and find opportunities locally,” she said.
The reintegration program will be conducted alongside job fair activities, bringing together various government agencies to provide employment, training, and livelihood assistance in a single venue.
Aligonza said returning workers will be linked to local job opportunities, including potential teaching positions in coordination with the Department of Education.
“They will be oriented by DepEd, and once they complete the requirements, they may be considered for employment as regular teachers,” she said.
Aside from employment facilitation, the program will also include livelihood assistance to help returning workers establish small businesses or alternative income sources.
“We are coordinating with different agencies so that all support services — from employment to livelihood—will be accessible in one venue,” Aligonza added.
The DMW emphasized that while global conditions remain uncertain, coordinated government support aims to ensure displaced OFWs are not left behind.
“We are syncing all our services so that our OFWs affected by the crisis will not be left behind,” Aligonza said./PN
