Gov’t begins redeployment of OFWs to Israel

Following the lowered crisis alert level in Israel, the Philippine government has begun allowing the redeployment of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

According to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare Felicitas Bay, preparations are underway for the return of Filipino workers.

“Everything is moving forward now since the alert level has been lowered to Alert Level 2, and we have already received inquiries from those planning to return to their respective employers,” Bay said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

The DMW said some OFWs had already departed for Israel last Friday. On Tuesday morning, the agency’s Pre-Employment and Government Placement Branch received six more deployment inquiries, with plans to fly back as early as 5 July.

“These are workers whose flights were previously canceled, so tentatively their departure will be on July 5 or July 7,” Bay explained.

The Department of Foreign Affairs recently lowered the alert level in Israel for Filipinos from Alert Level 3 (voluntary repatriation) to Alert Level 2 (restriction phase).

Under Alert Level 2, essential travel and the deployment of returning OFWs are allowed.

Despite the improved security conditions, repatriation efforts remain ongoing. Bay said that 10 OFWs from Israel are expected to arrive in the Philippines on Wednesday, and another 12 on Thursday. A separate batch of 26 OFWs is also expected to return on 5 July.

Currently, the DMW is housing 17 Filipino workers in three flats they are renting: the Migrant Workers Office shelter in Tel Aviv, one flat in Rehovot, and another in an area outside Tel Aviv.

Bay emphasized that the government’s repatriation efforts and welfare checks on Filipino workers will continue despite the lowered alert level.