Another batch of OFWs from Israel arriving today

MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-nine more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are set to arrive this afternoon from war-torn Israel, according to the Department of Migrant Workers.

DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said the seventh batch of 39 Filipino returnees will bring to more than 200 the OFWs who have returned from Israel.

Cacdac said the 39 OFWs were composed of 29 caregivers and 10 hotel workers as well as two children.

Though hundreds have been repatriated, Cacdac said, there are still many Filipino workers who do not want to leave Israel.

“Most of them have been there for a very long time. They are familiar with the culture, which is why they do not want to leave,” Cacdac said in a radio interview.

“Having said that, most of them are caregivers. They have responsibilities to take care of the elderly,” he added.

Aside from Israel, Cacdac said, the Philippine government has already repatriated 20 from Lebanon and nine others are scheduled to arrive within the week.

Cacdac said the Philippine labor attaché and social workers are going around Israel to check the condition of Filipino workers.

Meanwhile, the Philippine embassy in Amman urged all Filipinos in the West Bank to start preparations for their safety due to the ongoing violence that threaten their security.

Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos said there are currently 123 Filipinos in the West Bank composed of 91 resident Filipinos married to Palestinian nationals, their children, grandchildren, nine nuns from different religious congregations and 23 OFWs.

The embassy and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Amman has repatriated two OFWs from the West Bank on Wednesday, following the raising of Alert Level 2 in the Palestinian territory in October.

The embassy made appropriate representations with the authorities to facilitate their entry to Jordan. On Nov. 4, the OFWs crossed the border from the West Bank to Jordan, with the assistance of MWO Jordan and their foreign recruitment agency in Amman.

All 24 Filipino crewmen of a Liberian-flagged vessel damaged by a Russian missile attack are returning home soon.

The DMW already discussed with the manning agency the immediate repatriation of the Filipino seafarers.

Of the 24 Filipino crewmen, Cacdac said, three sustained injuries as a result of the missile attack.

One of the injured Filipino seafarers sustained a fractured left hand and has undergone an operation. He is now recovering at a hospital.

The two Filipino seafarers sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment on board. — Pia Lee-Brago