House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo assured the safety of the 28,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza City, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran.

This was the primary topic discussed during the courtesy visit of Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss to the office of Tulfo at the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon City last 27 November.

“My question, Mr. Ambassador, is that we have a lot of Filipino friends and they have a lot of relatives in Israel right now. How are they?” Tulfo asked the Ambassador.

To which, Fluss immediately guaranteed the safety of the Filipinos in their country despite the ongoing war in their area.

“We’re treating them like Israelis. In their homes, we have a shelter or a safety room,” Fluss said.

“They (Filipinos) are not sent close to the borders or war-torn area. We are making sure that where they stay they have a safety room, a shelter, and if they need anything, they have a number they can call,” the Ambassador added.

The official explained that the Filipino workers are working in their “green zone” or “safe area”, and are far from danger.

At present, more than 28,000 OFWs still remain in Israel and many of them are caregivers and hotel workers.

He also said in certainty that Israel is helping the families of Filipinos who have been affected by the war, such as when someone dies or is held hostage while in their country.

The Ambassador also relayed to Rep. Tulfo that they are currently in need of more Filipino workers in their country but they could not hire more because of the existing deployment ban of Filipinos to Israel.

“We need workers in agriculture, in construction, in industries, in hotels, in restaurants. There are about 11 professions that we are looking for workers from overseas,” Fluss mentioned. “The war has totally affected the deployment of Filipinos.”

He also said in certainty that Israel is helping the families of Filipinos who have been affected by the war, such as when someone dies or is held hostage while in their country.

“They are getting full support from the Israeli government, like any other Israeli victim of terror. So they get, they need a family to get a monthly income. If they need special assistance for education, for medical. So those families are being taken care of. We had two Filipinos that were taken hostage. Of course both were released. One of them is back here (in the Philippines),” Fluss explained.