Ang Pahayagan

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano emphasized the need for calm, coordinated, and carefully calibrated government action to protect Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

He also stressed that policy decisions made in Manila must always take into account the real-life situations faced by Filipino workers and their employers abroad.

Cayetano supported Proposed Senate Resolution No. 325, which was later adopted as Senate Resolution No. 41, urging the Philippine government to implement measures to ensure the protection — and in necessary situations, the repatriation — of OFWs in areas affected by the growing regional conflict, while also preparing interventions to mitigate potential economic impacts on the Philippines.

Cayetano, however, clarified that he did not sign the earlier version of the resolution because of concerns that an immediate blanket call for repatriation could unintentionally create anxiety among employers and workers and disrupt ongoing diplomatic and labor arrangements.

To address this concern, Cayetano introduced an amendment clarifying that repatriation should be undertaken only “in necessary situations.”

The change ensures that the government remains ready to bring Filipinos home when required, while recognizing that decisions must be based on actual conditions on the ground.

Cayetano also pushed to align the language of the resolution with the updated alert level system implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs, ensuring that the Senate’s position reflects the same protocols used by Philippine embassies and consulates in assessing security risks and responding to crises in the region.

Drawing from his experience as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2018, Cayetano emphasized that crisis responses involving Filipinos overseas must be guided by the assessments of diplomats and government personnel on the ground, who are in direct contact with OFWs, their employers, and host governments.

The resolution was adopted by the Senate following escalating tensions in the Middle East after military strikes and retaliatory actions involving Iran and several countries in the Gulf region, where an estimated 2.5 million Filipino workers are based.

Cayetano noted that OFWs across Israel, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates play vital roles both in their host economies and in supporting their families in the Philippines through remittances.

He also underscored the importance of ensuring that government resources intended for the protection of Filipinos abroad are fully mobilized during crises, including the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the AKSYON Fund of the Department of Migrant Workers, which are specifically allocated to assist distressed OFWs and Filipinos overseas.

Cayetano stressed the importance of a whole-of-government response to the situation, with the Department of Foreign Affairs providing leadership in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers and other relevant agencies in monitoring developments, assisting Filipinos abroad, and preparing contingency plans when necessary.

He emphasized that protecting OFWs requires both compassion and institutional discipline, ensuring that government responses are grounded in expert assessments while remaining sensitive to the livelihoods, dignity, and stability of Filipino workers overseas.

He added that the Senate resolution also calls on government agencies to prepare measures that will cushion the Philippine economy from potential disruptions resulting from instability in the Middle East, particularly in relation to labor deployment and remittances. (PR)