To ensure the safe repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government has identified safe passageways for their return amid the escalating military showdown between Israel and Iran.

President Marcos said Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac is on his way to Jordan to coordinate the evacuation process in the face of logistical issues including the shutdown of international airports.

“We are watching our nationals both in Israel and in Iran. And as a matter of fact, we have already contacted all our nationals and asked them if they want to be evacuated,” President Marcos said during a media interview following his inspection of the fire-damaged San Francisco High School Building in Quezon City.

“Some have asked to be evacuated out of Israel. Noong una, sa Iran, ayaw nila munang umalis. Pero ngayon, mayroon nang sinasabi na kailangan, natatakot na sila kaya nagpapatulong nang makalabas,” the President said.

“Ang naging problema natin sa pag-evacuate sa kanila ay dahil sa giyera, maraming sarado na airport. Kaya naghahanap tayo ng ruta kung saan sila mailabas. But we have been able to do that,” added the President.

The government has not assessed the situation to have reached Alert Level 4, which would mandate compulsory repatriation.

“We generally leave it to each individual or each family to decide for themselves whether or not they feel safe, or whether or not they would like to be evacuated,” President Marcos said.

On June 16, the President ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and DMW to ensure no Filipino would be left behind should the conflict in the Middle East intensify. | PND