Concerns over the safety and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East continue to grow– particularly after it was revealed that 21 Philippine government officials were given priority and flown out of Israel, while thousands of OFWs remain stranded and without clear evacuation plans.
In a news report of Inquirer.net, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that the Philippine government officials travelled to Jordan composed of nine mayors, four vice mayors, two party-list representatives, and two regional directors stuck in Israel including four officials from the Department of Agriculture were also with them.
Families of OFWs, many of whom are employed in the Middle, expressed outrage and heartbreak over what they called a “double standard” in the government’s crisis response.
“When the ship is in danger, the captain and his officers are supposed to be the last to leave,” said a tearful mother of a caregiver in Tel Aviv.
“Why were our leaders the first ones out while our ‘Bagong Bayani’ are left behind to fend for themselves?”
The conflict has already displaced hundreds of Filipinos, with reports of homes destroyed, jobs lost, and injuries sustained in bombings across Israeli and Iranian cities.
The situation escalated when Israel launched heavy airstrikes on Iranian targets, resulting in thousands of casualties, including peace negotiators and scientists.
The United States, initially denying involvement, later conducted strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. The US also send over 200 billion dollars of missiles to Israel. Just like America sending bombs and missiles to the Philippines? But the difference is, America is making the Philippines pay billions for obsolete equipment?
The warn has reached the United States and the Philippines. Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. warned Filipinos living in America after Trump threatened mass deportations of undocumented migrants, including Filipinos—stoking fear among the estimated 5 million Filipinos in the country.
Advocates are also pointing to the rise in hate crimes, with Filipinos being too victims during the previous wave of anti-Asian attacks.
Back home, the effects of the war are beginning to bite. Fuel prices have jumped more than ₱5 per liter. Is our government preparing to help our poor Filipinos?
Business groups are warning of a domino effect, with essential goods and food products set to increase in prices.
While neighboring countries are already implementing emergency response strategies, OFWs worldwide are slamming Philippine officials for being busy with political power plays, such as impeachment proceedings and frequent foreign junkets.
“Where is the urgency? Where is the leadership?” asked one overseas workers’ rights advocate. “Are we really going to wait until more OFWs die before acting decisively?”
The Philippines currently has approximately 2.1 million nationals working across the Middle East, including tens of thousands in Israel and Iran. Meanwhile, thousands of Iranians residing peacefully in the Philippines—many of whom studied in local universities in the 1970s—have voiced solidarity with Filipinos caught in the crossfire, emphasizing shared human values and the need for diplomacy.
As the situation unfolds, the cry from Filipino families grows louder: prioritize the people who have given so much to keep the economy afloat. “Our OFWs are not just remittance machines—they are human lives. They deserve protection, not abandonment,” said one OFW group in a strongly worded statement.#
