OUT of the 1,229 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon who are from Northern Mindanao, no one had reached out to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for repatriation amid tensions between Iran and the United States.

Eugene Mesias, officer in charge of OWWA-Northern Mindanao’s programs and services division, said based on their records, there are 63 OFWs in Iran, 36 in Iraq, and 1,130 in Lebanon.

However, Mesias said out of the 63 OFWs in Iran, only three have active OWWA membership; six in Iraq; and 106 in Lebanon.

This means that their OWWA membership has expired and has not been renewed as of September 2019, OWWA database shows.

“This means nga possible nga wala na sila sa area, pero possible gihapon nga wala na sila diha,” he said.

(This means that it’s possible that they are already gone in the area.)

Mesias said OFW membership to their agency ensures that Filipino workers are protected during their stay abroad, and that their families are entitled to other benefits and services to include scholarships, reintegration and repatriation benefits, loans, among others.

Last week, the mandatory repatriation of OFWs in the three countries was lifted after the government downgraded the alert levels in the Middle East.

The highest alert level was earlier raised in Iraq and Iran following the bombing by Iran of US military bases in Iraq, in retaliation for the death of a top Iranian general who was killed by a US airstrike.

Mesias meanwhile pointed out that OFWs who are repatriated will be employed when they are in the country.

“Perhaps he or she can opt for local employment, the government is ready to assist them. Also our labor department has exploratory talks with other countries nga prospect mahimong market sa atong OFWs,” he said.

Russia, Germany, Canada, China, and Japan, are among the possible alternative destinations for the displaced OFWs.

“There’s no need to worry because our government has already put in place contingency plans in case of crisis, based on the experiences in the past,” he said.