Iloilo monitors 65 OFWs in Lebanon amid conflict

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Government is closely monitoring the safety of 65 Ilonggo Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Lebanon as tensions escalate between Israel and Hezbollah.

These OFWs, primarily employed as service workers, have been accounted for through coordinated efforts led by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Iloilo.

“As of today, we have accounted for 65 Ilonggo OFWs in Lebanon through the different municipal PESO managers and our barangay PESO coordinators,” confirmed Cynthia Dario, acting head of PESO-Iloilo, in an interview on August 29.

Dario reported that while all 65 OFWs are currently safe, one individual is in close proximity to a war zone and unable to evacuate due to their employer’s illness. She emphasized that daily monitoring is ongoing to ensure their safety.

“The provincial government has reactivated Task Force ‘Bulig Ilonggo,’ in partnership with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), to assist these workers,” Dario said.

Dario also noted a significant number of undocumented OFWs in Lebanon.

“According to data from OWWA, from Iloilo province alone, there are approximately 1,400 OFWs, with over 200 of them documented,” she added.

Dario explained that undocumented OFWs have not renewed their membership with OWWA, which includes both active and inactive workers.

She highlighted the role of municipal PESO managers in gathering ground-level data and maintaining communication with the families of OFWs.

“We are responsive to their requests, and to the families of our OFWs in Lebanon, our lines are open,” Dario assured.

She encouraged relatives and concerned individuals to reach out to the emergency hotlines established by PESO and PDRRMO for real-time updates and assistance.

The following contact numbers are available for emergencies: PESO – 0961-680-4428, 0917-754-3833, 0916-758-3156, 0910-005-4682; PDRRMO – 0960-834-8147. Messages can also be sent via the PESO-Province of Iloilo Facebook Page.

Task Force “Bulig Ilonggo” was established under Executive Order 004, series of 2020, to provide support to OFWs and their families during crises. The task force is currently mobilizing municipal and barangay networks to identify and trace OFWs in Lebanon, which is now at Alert Level 3, where voluntary repatriation is advised.

Meanwhile, the Philippine government, through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), has pledged substantial support for repatriated OFWs, including financial aid of P150,000 and access to training and livelihood programs.

The Philippine Embassy in Beirut has also issued an advisory, urging all Filipinos to evacuate immediately.

The ongoing conflict affects approximately 11,000 Filipinos, most of whom are in Beirut.