DOLE: No OFW deployment ban to Israel, only temporary suspension of departure

By TED CORDERO, GMA News Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Thursday said that the government has not banned the deployment of overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) to Israel amid the ongoing tensions between Israeli forces and Gaza’s armed groups. advertisement “We have not banned the deployment of our workers to Israel. The processing of those who already qualified continues,” Bello said in a statement. “We are merely suspending their actual departure while the tension is still high,” the Labor chief said. In a separate text message, Bello said that the “processing of the applications are still ongoing.” Malacanang, through presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, said it is backing the move of the Labor department. “Well, suportado po ng Malacañang ang naging desisyon ni Secretary Bello na panandaliang itigil muna ang pagpapadala ng mga OFWs sa lugar ng Israel sa Gitnang Silangan dahil nga po sa tumitinding labanan doon,” Roque said in a Palace briefing. (The Palace supports this move by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to temporarily stop sending OFWs due to heightened exchange of attacks between two camps there.) “Ito naman po ay para mapangalagaan nga ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan. Siyempre habang naghahanda tayo na i-evacuate at i-repatriate ang ating mga kababayan doon eh bakit tayo magpapadala ng mga bagong mga OFWs doon din,” he added. (This is to ensure the safety of our people. Of course, while we prepare for evacuation and repatriation of our citizens, why send another batch of OFWs there?) Tension in Israel has been ongoing for almost two weeks amid the exchange of rockets between Israelis and Palestinians. Israeli strikes have killed 227 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while Palestinian rocket fire has claimed 12 lives in Israel, according to Israeli police. US President Joe Biden has called for a "significant de-escalation" in Israel's conflict with Gaza's armed groups. The Department of Foreign Affairs placed Israel and West Bank under Alert Level 1 category while Gaza is on Alert Level 2. Alert Level 1, the lowest security category of the government for Filipinos overseas, means there are valid signs of internal disturbance, instability, and external threat to the host country. No evacuation is needed under this level, but Filipinos must exercise caution and avoid conflict zones. Level 2 entails restriction of non-essential movements, avoiding of places of protest, and preparation for possible evacuation. In its situation bulletin as of May 20, the DFA said that it has not received any report of Filipino casualties or injuries in Israel, the Gaza Strip, or the West Bank “since the recent escalation of violence in certain areas within the region.” The DFA said there are 29,473 Filipinos in Israel and 91 in Gaza. The Department of Labor and Employment, meanwhile, said there are at least 400 OFWs that were for departure this month. “Ang pakiusap ko pa sa ating mga paalis na caregivers at health care workers ay ipagpaliban ng ilang araw ang kanilang biyahe upang hindi sila mapahamak,” Bello said. (Our appeal to departing caregivers and health care workers is to delay for several days their travel for their own safety.) “Sagutin ko po sila kay Pangulong Duterte kung ano man ang mangyari sa kanila in case sila ay umalis sa kabila ng mataas na tension doon sa Israel,” he said. (I will be responsible to President Duterte if anything happens to them in case they still go out of the country despite the high tension in Israel.) “It will just be about a few days of delay. We just want to be sure they will be safe,” Bello said.—With a report from Llanesca Panti/AOL/LDF, GMA News