Gov’t seeking other exit route for Filipinos in Middle East

Metro Manila, Philippines - The government is looking for another exit route for the second batch of Filipino repatriates from Israel, a senior migrant workers official said.

Migrant Workers Undersecretary Felicitas Bay said the flight for the second group of 50 Filipinos from Israel has been tentatively scheduled for June 26 or 27.

The flight may be “following the same route as the first batch but with what happened last night on the restriction or closure of Qatar airspace, the embassy and migrant workers office are working out, checking on arrangements on another route,” Bay said in a briefing on Tuesday, June 24.

The first batch of 31 Filipinos arrived in Manila on Tuesday evening, but their flight from Doha was delayed after Qatar briefly closed its airspace after an Iranian attack on a US air base.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head Patricia Yvonne Caunan also said the government is looking for a schedule to fly another batch of 20 Filipinos.

The OWWA acknowledged there were Filipinos in Qatar who “panicked” about the bombing.

“Maraming naglalabas ng pekeng balita, nananakot lang. Please follow ‘yong Facebook pages ng DMW (Department of Migrant Workers), DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), OWWA, at embassy kung nasaan sila kasi real-time kami nag-a-update nagbibigay ng abiso kung ano dapat gawin,” Caunan advised OFWs and their families.

[Translation: Many are posting fake news to spread fear. Please follow the Facebook pages of the DMW, DFA, OWWA, and the embassies where they are in as we post real-time updates and advisories.]

Should more Filipinos from the Middle East request repatriation, the DMW said it is studying, in coordination with the OWWA and the DFA, to possibly avail of a chartered flight.

“We have to consider restrictions in airspace, host country permits, and other measures para ma-ensure and safety ng ating mga kababayan [to ensure the safety of our countrymen],” Bay said.

A total of 311 Filipinos in Israel have requested repatriation amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv said.

Caunan said the government also understands the “change of heart” of those who initially requested for repatriation or those who chose to stay.

“Kasi ‘yong mga rason nila trabaho, safety nila. We trust na pag sinabi nila hindi pa sila ready to land travel, we trust they assessed the situation,” she said.

[Translation: Their reasons include their jobs and their safety. We trust that if they say they are not yet ready to travel by land, we trust they assessed the situation.]

The DFA has raised Alert Level 3, or voluntary repatriation over Israel and Iran. Alert Level 4 requires forced evacuation.

The OWWA said it has received 35 calls from Filipinos in the Middle East.