Latest news with #Cacdac
GMA Network
6 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Delay OFW deployment to Middle East amid tensions, DMW tells recruitment firms
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday urged private recruitment agencies (PRAs) to delay the deployment of Filipino workers to conflict-affected areas in the Middle East to ensure their safety. In its advisory, DMW reiterated the OFW deployment restrictions in Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon. 'Right now, we're on Alert Level 2 in Israel, which means new hires are prohibited, but pwede ang returning,' DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said. 'However, due to the airspace restrictions, it is impossible for them to go, including those bound for Jordan, because they will just be turned back in case of the closure of the airspace,' he added. The advisory mandates PRAs to: • Maintain active communication with employers and foreign partners to verify the location and safety of deployed workers; • Conduct regular welfare checks and submit updated reports through the OFW Welfare Monitoring System; • Develop contingency plans covering evacuation and emergency repatriation; • Shoulder costs of rerouting or rebooking flights for OFWs affected by airspace closures; and • Refrain from processing deployments to Jordan and Israel until clearance is issued. 'When we speak in a regulatory sense, they have to comply. Any agency that continues deployment despite the directive will face penalties,' Cacdac said. 'And yes, 'yong cost of travel hahabulin namin sila doon kung kami ang gumastos sa pagpapauwi (we will charge them the cost of travel because we're the ones paying for it),' he added DMW said that as of June 19, it has assisted 58 stranded OFWs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for repatriation. Of the stranded OFWs, 43 were bound for Israel and 15 for Jordan. DMW also said it met with PRAs in Jordan to explain the current situation and limitations of OFW deployment. 'Handa silang mag-aantay at tumulong sa lahat nang na-stranded nating mga OFWs (they are willing to wait and help the stranded OFWs),' said DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, relaying the response of Jordanian employers. In a Reuters report, Iran and Israel targeted each other with missiles and airstrikes early on Saturday after Israel launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Earlier today, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the 21 stranded Philippine government officials safely crossed into Jordan from Israel. DFA also said the Philippine government is considering raising the alert levels on Israel and Iran as attacks between the two countries continue.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Arab Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
OFW Safety First: Philippines Suspends Deployments To Mideast Hotspots
KUWAIT CITY, June 20: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has encouraged private recruitment agencies (PRAs) to delay the deployment of their processed Filipino workers to conflict-affected countries in the Middle East, ensuring their safety and well-being. The DMW issued Advisory No. 19 s. 2025 reiterating restrictions in the deployment of OFWs to Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon. Lebanon remains under Alert Level 3, which prohibits deployment of both new hires and returning workers. Israel, meanwhile, is under Alert Level 2, which means that only returning workers with valid contracts are allowed, but currently cannot proceed due to airspace closures amid the ongoing tensions in the region. 'Right now, we're on Alert Level 2 in Israel, which means new hires are prohibited, but pwede ang returning. However, due to the airspace restrictions, it is impossible for them to go, including to those bound for Jordan, because they will just be turned back in case of the closure of the airspace,' said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac during a press briefing on Thursday. As of June 19, a total of 58 stranded OFWs — including 43 bound for Israel and 15 for Jordan — have been assisted by DMW's Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for repatriation. The DMW is closely coordinating with the MWOs and the Philippine Embassies to ensure the welfare of workers caught in transit. 'When we speak in a regulatory sense, then they have to comply. Any agency that continues deployment despite the directive will face penalties,' Secretary Cacdac warned. 'And yes, 'yong cost of travel hahabulin namin sila doon kung kami ang gumastos sa pagpapauwi.' The advisory mandates PRAs to: Maintain active communication with employers and foreign partners to verify the location and safety of deployed workers; Conduct regular welfare checks and submit updated reports through the OFW Welfare Monitoring System; Develop contingency plans covering evacuation and emergency repatriation; Shoulder costs of rerouting or rebooking flights for OFWs affected by airspace closures; and Refrain from processing deployments to Jordan and Israel until clearance is issued. DMW also met with PRAs, including the Philippine Association of Manpower Agencies for Jordan (PAMAJOR) and the Foreign Recruitment Agency in Jordan, to explain the current situation and ensure compliance. 'Naipaliwanag natin sa Jordanian employers ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon at limitasyon sa pagpapapunta ng ating mga OFWs at handa silang mag-aantay at tumulong sa lahat nang na-stranded nating mga OFWs,' said DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia. The DMW emphasized its commitment to ensuring the protection and security of OFWs, especially in times of crisis, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies.
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DMW issues deployment ban on new hires for Iran, Jordan amid conflict with Israel
The Department of Migrant Workers has implemented a deployment ban on new hires for Iran and Jordan amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East. 'New hires are prohibited. Returning [Overseas Filipino Workers] are allowed, technically speaking. But they still can't travel because the airspace is closed,' DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a press conference on Thursday. The DMW issued Advisory No. 19 s. 2025 reiterating restrictions in the deployment of OFWs to Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon. Cacdac advised Jordan-bound OFWs to likewise postpone their trips, given the kingdom shares a common border with Israel. 'The same is true with Jordan-bound OFWs, they are turned back. So we issued an advisory, huwag na kayo pumunta muna. We included that in our advisory to recruitment agencies. Don't send new hires to Jordan because they will just be turned back,' Cacdac added. (Don't go there at this time.) There is an existing deployment ban in Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel in 2023. Cacdac warned that non-compliant recruitment agencies will be held liable. 'That's part of our regulatory authority over them. When we speak in a regulatory sense, then they have to comply. And yes, on the cost of travel, we'll have them pay for that,' Cacdac said. As of Thursday, Cacdac said that there are also 58 Filipinos who are either Israel-bound or Jordan-bound but are stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Of the 58, the DMW has been able to arrange a flight for four Israel-bound Filipinos to return to the Philippines via an Etihad flight in Abu Dhabi. 'We have been helping them,' Cacdac said. While it is not within DMW's purview to make recommendations on alert levels that determine whether there should be a mandatory repatriation or a voluntary one, Cacdac said the agency is focused on helping Filipinos in need, regardless of the situation. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials are the political and security experts. We honor their leadership at the one country team level so it is the ambassador's call, it is the Secretary of Foreign Affairs' call , and we will always defer to the DFA's judgment,' Cacdac said. Tensions are high in the Middle East after Israel launched a preemptive attack against Iran six days ago, supposedly to deter Tehran's nuclear program. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DMW: 150 OFWs in Israel up for repatriation amid Israel-Iran conflict
A drone photo shows the damage over residential homes at the impact site following missile attack from Iran on Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 16, 2025. REUTERS/ Moshe Mizrahi At least 150 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel will be repatriated to the Philippines amid ongoing missile strikes between Israel and Iran, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Thursday. In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac, who is leaving the country to go to Jordan, said the 150 OFWs are expected to be back to the country as soon as possible in compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s directive. "I will make a first stop to Beirut to assure the Filipino community of assistance there, then I will proceed to Jordan as directed by the President. Mandatory repatriation is not yet appropriate, but we know that there are OFWs who are willing to come home, who want to come home, that is why we are facilitating their repatriation, and indeed, out of Jordan, we will undertake the repatriation efforts," Cacdac said. "So far, 150 OFWs want repatriation. I cannot give further details due to security reasons, but rest assured, we will have our first batch coming home [soon] since the Iran-Israel conflict. The situation is quite fluid, so I won't set a timeline, but rest assured, this is being done as soon as possible," he added. Cacdac said the exchange of airstrikes between Israel and Iran have reached an unusual level, to say the least, but not yet to a point of a need of mandatory repatriation due to the existence of bomb shelters both in private and public properties in Israel. "Sa tingin ko, ito ay kakaiba. Let me just put it that way. We have never seen itong ganitong palitan ng missile attacks between the two nations. Of course, nagkaroon na ng mga conflict in the last year or months mula noong October 7 Hamas attack on Israel but this would be different level, different scale," Cacdac said. (This is kind of unusual. We have never seen this level of exchange of missile attacks between the two nations. Of course, there have been conflicts since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, but what is going on now is of a different scale.) "We also have to consider that they have bomb shelters and they have protocols that are widely disseminated. If the residence of the employers of OFWs does not have a bomb shelter, there are municipal bomb shelters," he added. In addition, Cacdac said that of the five Filipinos hurt due to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, three have already been discharged from the hospital, one is recovering and one is in critical condition. Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran six days ago, supposedly to deter Iran's nuclear program. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
109 Filipinos seek repatriation amid escalating Israel-Iran tensions —DMW
Amid the continued exchange of air strikes between Israel and Iran, at least 109 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have expressed their intent to return home, according to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac. During an Unang Balita interview on Tuesday, Cacdac confirmed that government teams are on the ground providing assistance to affected Filipinos, including one critically injured Filipina now recovering in a hospital in Israel. 'Well sa ngayon, nasa critical condition pa rin siya. Dinalaw siya ng team natin,' Cacdac said. (She remains in critical condition as of now. Our team has visited her.) 'Under the auspices of the embassy, at sa OWWA, 'yung team ni Admin PY Caunan. At ang news na natanggap namin sa dalaw ay conscious siya which is a good sign. 'Yung kulay niya noong isang araw medyo maputla, pero nag-improve,' he added. (The visit was under the auspices of the embassy and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the team of Administrator Patricia Yvonne "PY" Caunan. The latest update from the hospital is that she is now conscious, which is a good sign. Her color was pale the other day, but she has improved.) Cacdac noted that the woman has a sibling with her at the hospital, providing comfort and support. He added that the DMW has already coordinated with her family in the Philippines to assure them of ongoing government help. In addition to those hospitalized, the DMW has extended help to 14 Filipinos affected by the conflict — some of whom are staying in temporary accommodations. 'Meron pa rin tayong tinutulungan sa mga hard-hit areas kung saan meron tayong linalagay ngayon sa temporary accommodation,' he said. (We're still helping people in the hardest hit areas where we've placed them in temporary accommodations.) No new injuries among Filipinos have been reported despite fresh attacks in the region, Cacdac said. 'Sa awa ng Diyos, nagkaroon na naman ng attack kahapon. Pero sa awa ng Diyos, walang tayong napabalitaang nasaktan. 'Yung apat, 'yun pa rin ang bilang na alam natin,' he said. (By God's grace, there was another attack yesterday, but fortunately, no new Filipino casualties were reported. The number remains at four.) As of now, 25 Filipinos have confirmed they want to be repatriated, on top of the 85 who registered before the recent escalation. 'Ngayon tumatayo sa 109 'yung nasa listahan natin and counting. Eighty-five doon sa 109, nagpalista na bago pa nag-atake noong Biyerne sa Iran,' he shared. (We currently have 109 on the list, and the number continues to grow. Of the 109, eighty-five registered even before the Iranian attack last Friday.) Cacdac emphasized that repatriation efforts are being coordinated, but complications remain due to closed airspace and airport restrictions in conflict zones. When asked about the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Cacdac deferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense for official updates. 'Sa puntong ito ay kailangan natin ng kaukulang payo mula sa DFA... We are also in touch with Sec. Gibo and the DND on this matter,' he said. (At this point, we need proper advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs... We're also in touch with Defense Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro and the Department of National Defense on the matter.) Rescue personnel work at an impact site following missile attack from Iran on Israel, in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv, Israel June 13, 2025. REUTERS/Itai Ron Cacdac also issued a strong advisory to OFWs currently in Israel and Iran to stay indoors and avoid sharing or engaging with misinformation online. 'Huwag masyadong lumabas sa bahay. Huwag rin masyadong makilahok sa mga malawakang discussion o lalo na ang pagpapalaganap ng fake news sa panahon na ito,' he said. (Avoid going out of the house. And don't get too involved in large discussions, especially the spread of fake news at this time.) The DMW's 1348 hotline is active and can be reached locally or from abroad (+632-1348) for those in need of urgent assistance. —KG, GMA Integrated News
