The administration is facing its first litmus test in the potentially wide-scale need to bring back overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the latest Middle East crisis.

Thus far, the response has left much to be desired, as those who should be relied upon to act swiftly have not made their presence felt.

Instead of finding quick solutions — which was the strength of the previous regime that focused on the plight of migrants — the officials now are resorting to useless fault-finding to evade public attention.

Consider Malacañang on Wednesday asking how OFWs were allowed to travel to Israel and Jordan when the skies above those countries were ablaze with missiles and military aircraft — when the public was expecting a detailed repatriation plan.

The Palace and the Department of Migrant Workers, instead of passing the buck for failing to head off the risks at least 43 OFWs en route to Israel and Jordan were made to endure, should have ordered their swift return to the country.

The workers were stranded in Dubai last Monday after their connecting flights to Israel and Jordan were canceled, as no airports in their destinations were operating. The DMW said the OFWs eventually returned to the country.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro’s dull response to the situation was that the Palace will thoroughly examine it “before drawing conclusions.”

“We will look into the situation — whether there was a lapse on the part of the Bureau of Immigration in allowing it. We won’t make any immediate judgments; let’s examine the details,” Castro said.

While Castro and the administration seek to identify the culprit, other OFWs languish in uncertainty over their fate as the Middle East crisis worsens.

The Bureau of Immigration tossed the blame back to Castro since it said there was no policy on Filipinos heading to the conflict zone, including through connecting flights.

What has been transpiring is an utter vacuum in leadership amid the unfolding war.

The only policy that can be discerned at the moment is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statement that the government will assist those who wish to flee the conflict, but a ban on deployment is not in effect. The deployment of new OFWs is suspended but evacuations have not been mandated.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the government has received 150 requests for repatriation from Israel and 14 from Iran, while the first batch of evacuees is expected to transit through Jordan and arrive back home soon.

While the administration’s structured, diplomatic approach has improved coordination with other nations, the logistics is what the Palace and the DMW should immediately address.

While policies regarding foreign relations have changed, the speed by which dangers in the hotspot are addressed should be maintained, as immediate action can mean the difference between life and death for those caught in the crossfire.

What the OFWs do not need is a mild-mannered approach that lacks decisiveness. In the Israel-Hamas conflict, OFW families complained about delayed communications from the government, which passed through official channels compared to the faster direct coordination with the Filipino communities.

In a crisis, action should be the norm, rather than pointing fingers.