The Philippine government should have stand-by funds of not less than P600 million for the possible repatriation and rendering of assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East, should the conflict there escalate.
Thus, said economist-solon Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, who directed his appeal in particular to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs should validate overseas contingency plans and propose stand-by funds at a level of at least P600 million, Salceda said on Sunday, June 15.
Salceda’s basis for this amount was the amount of money tapped by the government when there was similar trouble in the region over five years ago.
In January 2020, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) mobilized P600 million for repatriation and welfare services due to rising tensions in the region, he said.
That figure remains a practical benchmark for 2026 proposals by the [DMW] and the [DFA], reckoned the Bicolano, referring to the agencies’ budget proposals
Israel and Iran have been exchanging missle attacks the past few days, causing great concern over the human cost of the unfolding conflict.
Salceda says there are about 2.16 million Filipinos working abroad, and more than one third are in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia accounts for over 20 percent, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for more than 13 percent of that population.
