Senator Urges Halt to OFW Deployments Near Iran, Israel
In response to escalating tensions, Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo has called for a temporary suspension of sending Filipino workers to areas close to the Iran-Israel conflict zone, prioritizing the safety of OFWs amid the growing hostilities.
Urgent Appeal
Erwin Tulfo requested that relevant government agencies pause the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to regions near the conflict between Iran and Israel. He specifically mentioned the surrounding areas, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Egypt.
“Not all of the Middle East, but the surrounding areas of Iran and Israel like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, and there are also Jordan and Egypt,”
—Erwin Tulfo, Senator-elect
Tulfo indicated that deployment could resume once a ceasefire is in place or the war concludes. The Philippines has a significant number of OFWs in the Middle East, with approximately 600,000 working in Saudi Arabia alone (Statista, 2024), highlighting the potential risks to Filipino citizens.
Escalating Conflict
The rising tensions between Iran and Israel have intensified since June 13, when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple Iranian sites. Tehran responded with retaliatory strikes, as reported by the Anadolu News Agency.
Israeli authorities reported at least 24 fatalities and hundreds of injuries due to the Iranian missile attacks. This recent escalation underscores the urgency of Tulfo’s appeal to protect Filipino workers.
