REPAT READY: Iloilo monitors 250 OFWs amid Middle East attacks

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Public Employment Service Office in Iloilo City and Iloilo province is monitoring at least 250 Ilonggo overseas Filipino workers amid escalating tensions and retaliatory strikes in parts of the Middle East.

As of Monday, March 2, the region remained in crisis following the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting ongoing Iranian retaliatory missile barrages on Israel and U.S. assets in Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.

PESO Iloilo City head Gab Umadhay said 119 OFWs from the city are being monitored across several Middle Eastern countries.

Of the total, 17 are in Israel, two in Oman, 28 in Qatar, six in the United Arab Emirates, one in Bahrain, 32 in Kuwait, 29 in Saudi Arabia and four in Jerusalem.

“We are closely monitoring them because they have manifested their situations. Most of them are saying that they are all in safe conditions, and they are also experiencing bombing-related incidents in their area, but when we asked the question if they want to return home, all of them are saying they do not want to,” they said.

Umadhay said many workers cited lower compensation if they return to the Philippines as a key reason for opting to stay, especially since they consider their current locations generally safe.

Umadhay added that the OFWs have been receiving advisories from host governments directing them to seek public shelters when necessary, with established safety protocols in place.

One worker in Bahrain is set for repatriation, although Umadhay said the move stems from an employment issue and is not directly related to the bombings.

“The repatriation was brought about by the employer, not because of the bombing. We are helping with the repatriation, but that will happen as soon as there are air flight clearances,” they said.

PESO Iloilo City has also coordinated with Barangay Employment Service Office workers to reach families of OFWs who may be distressed.

“We opened our lines to families and our recruiters in the Middle East. If there are immediate concerns or requests for facilitation of repatriation, our office is open to accept them,” they said.

Umadhay said the PESO office has so far received three concerns from families — two involving relatives in Dubai and one in Bahrain.

The families in Dubai relayed that their relatives are safe, while the worker in Bahrain reported bombing sites near her location but said she would not seek repatriation because she remains in a secure area.

Umadhay said there are more than 10,000 Ilonggo migrant workers across the Middle East, with most employed in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Umadhay said deployment to identified war zones such as Iran and Israel has been suspended since 2020 under national government policies now overseen by the Department of Migrant Workers.

Umadhay also acknowledged that tracking migrant workers who enter some countries through informal or unauthorized channels remains difficult, making it harder for PESO to monitor their condition and extend assistance.

In Iloilo province, at least 128 OFWs have been initially recorded as affected by the unrest, Provincial PESO head Cynthia Dario said.

Dario said the identified OFWs are based in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Dubai and Kuwait.

Dario said the listed OFWs have been reported safe and that their condition was verified after they were able to communicate with their families in Iloilo.

As of Monday, no Ilonggo OFW on the list has expressed intent to return home due to the continuing tensions in the region.

Dario said the number of Ilonggo workers in the Middle East may still increase as PESO continues profiling through hotline numbers and with the assistance of local PESOs.

Families of OFWs in the Middle East who need help may contact PESO Iloilo City at 0949-712-3201 or send a message through its official Facebook page.

The Iloilo Provincial Government, through the Provincial PESO Office, has activated emergency hotlines for affected Ilonggo OFWs and their families:

•0998-990-5663
• 0917-754-3833
• 0910-005-4682
• 0916-758-3156
• 0995-931-0922
• 0917-881-7808
• 0961-680-4428