THE government has temporarily suspended the deployment of Filipinos to Israel due to the armed conflict in the Middle Eastern region, but the Labor department clarified that “there is no ban.”
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Thursday, May 20, that the suspension will just be for a few days as the government just wants to ensure the safety of the Filipino workers.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported earlier that some 400 Filipino caregivers are scheduled to be deployed to Israel under an existing bilateral labor agreement between the Philippines and Israel.
"The actual deployment is temporarily suspended, but there is no ban. We are merely suspending their actual departure while the tension is still high," Bello said in a statement.
He also clarified that the applications and processing of those who already qualified for deployment continues.
POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said the deployment of OFWs to Israel’s residential zones that are far from the areas of conflict will take place this month.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, in a press briefing Thursday, May 20, confirmed that Malacañang supports DOLE’s decision.
“Suportado po ng Malacañang ang naging desisyon ni Secretary Bello na panandaliang itigil muna ang pagpapadala ng mga OFWs sa lugar ng Israel sa Gitnang Silangan dahil nga po sa tumitinding labanan doon. Ito naman po ay para mapangalagaan nga ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Roque added that the government is also readying the possible evacuation or repatriation of Filipinos in Israel if the tension between Israel and Palestine escalates further.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that there are 29,473 Filipinos in Israel and 91 in Gaza.
As of May 20, Alert Level 1 (precautionary phase) has been raised over Israel and the West Bank, while Alert Level 2 (restriction phase) was hoisted in Gaza. Voluntary repatriation will be implemented once Alert Level 3 is raised, said the DFA.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassies in Tel Aviv, Amman, and Cairo are jointly monitoring the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip and are prepared to assist Filipino nationals who may be affected by the ongoing conflict,” it said in a statement.
“The department is on standby with evacuation plans ready to be activated as needed and as soon as the borders open and a humanitarian corridor is established,” the DFA added.
It also reported that as of May 20, it has not received any report of Filipino casualties in Israel, the Gaza Strip, or the West Bank.
The ongoing war between Israel and Palestine began last May 10 when Hamas fired long-range rockets toward Jerusalem in support of Palestinian protests against Israel’s heavy-handed policing of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a flashpoint site sacred to Jews and Muslims, and the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families by Jewish settlers.
Since then, Israel has struck hundreds of targets across the Mediterranean coastal strip, and Hamas has fired thousands rockets at Israel.
Israel said it seeks to cripple Hamas by targeting its leaders, and military infrastructure, while trying to avoid civilian casualties. But the powerful bombs dropped on crowded Gaza have caused significant damage to the territory's infrastructure.
Gaza health officials said at least 227 Palestinians, including 64 children, have been killed in airstrikes and more than 1,600 were wounded. Twelve people in Israel have been killed by rockets.
The bombardment has also driven more than 56,000 Gazans from their homes, fleeing into 59 schools run by UNRWA. The UN agency is providing them with water and basic hygiene supplies, including face masks. Unknown numbers more have taken refuge with relatives. (With AP/SunStar Philippines)