DOLE to consult DFA before deploying workers to Israel

By HANA BORDEY, GMA News Published May 22, 2021 5:41pm The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will consult the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) first before allowing Filipinos to be deployed to Israel, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Saturday. In a Dobol B TV interview, Bello said OFW deployments are dependent on the DFA’s alert level on Israel and Gaza. “Kung nagtatandaan niyo, nag-declare ang DFA ng Alert Level 2… ibig sabihin suspend ang deployment. So, we have to assess the situation at konsultahin ang DFA kung ang alert level ay ibaba from Alert Level 2 to Level 1 kasi ‘pag Alert Level 2 suspended ang deployment,” Bello said. (To recall, the DFA has declared an Alert Level 2 which means the deployment to that area was suspended. So, we have to assess the situation and consult the DFA if the alert level will be downgraded.) 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 at this alert level, but Filipinos must exercise caution and avoid conflict zones. Level 2 entails restriction of non-essential movements, avoiding places of protest, and preparation for possible evacuation. Despite the declaration of Alert Level 2, Filipinos in the said areas did not want to avail of the government’s repatriation, Bello said. The Labor Secretary added that DOLE is still monitoring if the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement which controls the Gaza Strip, is being respected by both parties. “May ceasefire pero obserbahan natin na dapat tutuparin ang ceasefire na ‘yan dahil ayaw ko naman na mag-deploy ng OFWs at mga caregiver e bigla na namang sasabog, may violation ng casefire, magputukan na naman,” Bello said. (The ceasefire was declared but we still need to observe if both parties will respect their agreement. We don’t want to deploy OFWs and caregivers there while we are still unsure of the situation.) Hourly monitoring of the situation in Israel was already ordered by Bello. According to the DOLE, at least 400 Filipinos were set for departure this month. So far, Bello reiterated that no Filipinos were hurt from the clashes between the Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Last Thursday, Bello clarified that the Philippine government had not banned the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Israel. Malacanang, through presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, said it is backing the move of the Labor Department. The DFA said there are 29,473 Filipinos in Israel and 91 in Gaza. — DVM, GMA News

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