Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 19)— The Philippine government will deploy around 400 caregivers to Israel this month, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. This comes despite growing tensions between the Middle Eastern country and Palestine.
In a media forum on Wednesday, POEA chief Bernard Olalia said the caregivers will comprise the first batch of workers under the government-to-government labor deal between the Philippines and Israel.
“First batch po natin, halos 400 po ‘yung ating ide-deploy na mga caregivers, home-based po ito, papunta po ng bansang Israel, under the bilateral labor agreement between the two countries,” Olalia said.
[Translation: Our first batch would be almost 400 caregivers, home-based, who will be deployed to Israel, under the bilateral labor agreement between the two countries.]
Olalia noted that their Israeli counterpart has assured the safety of the Filipino workers, adding that they will not be stationed in areas under conflict.
“Ibig sabihin, malayo po doon sa nagkakaroon ng bombahan, malayo doon sa nagkakaroon ng putukan,” he said. “Sila po ay mapupunta naman sa mga residensya na hindi po sila lalabas, at sila po ay secure.”
[Translation: This means they will be deployed far from areas where there are bombings, far from areas where there are shootings. They will stay inside residences where they will be secure.]
This was echoed by the Labor Department, which, in a separate statement, assured that Filipino workers scheduled for deployment “will be safe and secure” despite the conflict in the region.
Olalia said the government will continue to monitor the situation in Israel, noting that they would be ready to repatriate OFWs should their safety be endangered.
Israel-Palestine relations have long been tense, but clashes have flared up in recent days, prompted by moves to evict Palestinian families from their homes near the Old City in Jerusalem.
Both sides have exchanged airstrikes and rocket attacks, with the United Nations previously warning the conflict could escalate into a “full-scale war.”
READ: Tensions between Israel and Palestinians are sky-high. Here’s what you need to know
