President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to extend immediate support to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the Israel-Iran missile strikes.

President Marcos instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to ensure that no Filipino would be left behind should the conflict in the Middle East escalate.

“Ang direktiba ng Pangulo sa DFA, DMW at OWWA ay bilisan ang tulong sa ating mga kababayan. No one is left behind. ‘Yun ang tagubilin ng Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Palace press briefing on Monday.

“Direktiba po ng Pangulo… ang DMW at OWWA ay dapat siguraduhin ang safety and well-being of the OFWs na apektado ng tensyon dito sa Middle East,” Castro added.

Castro said concerned government agencies are on heightened alert and prepared to provide immediate assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel and Iran.

She noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has a contingency plan in place in case repatriation from Iran becomes necessary.

Meanwhile, a government team has been deployed to Israel to help ensure the safety and well-being of Filipinos amid ongoing tensions.

At least four Filipinos in Israel were injured and brought to a hospital, according to the DFA.

Castro said two of them have been discharged from the hospital.

“Ang apat na kababayan po na nasugatan at nasa ospital, dalawa na po sa kanila ay nailabas at dalawa naman po ay nananatili sa pagamutan, at ipinagdarasal po natin ang mabilisan nilang paggaling,” said Castro.

Castro said that OFWs and their families seeking help may contact the DMW-OWWA Middle East local emergency hotline at 1348 or the overseas hotline at +6321348. | PND