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OFWs from war-torn Israel backed home
By Nidz Godino
"At around 7 in the evening, Oct. 7,2023, while I was sleeping in the house of my alaga ward, 90-year-old Israeli woman, I heard bomb explode and then another one, so I ran toward room of my alaga and brought her to bomb shelter and we stayed there for so many hours until Israeli Defense Forces ,IDF arrived and brought us to safer place," Caregiver Mylene Rivera, 47, from Pampanga narrated scariest moment of her life.
Sixteen overseas Filipino workers, mostly caregivers, and infant arrived from war-torn Israel.
OFWs flew from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel-Aviv, Israel to United Arab Emirates, and then to Manila on Etihad Airways Flight EY464, landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at 3:20 in the afternoon.
Shirley dela Cruz, 39, from Nueva Ecija, recounted seeing "like fireworks in the sky" in the evening of Oct. 7 while she and her employer were driving away from Nir, Israel to house of the latter's son.
"Situation then was really scary; there were many Hamas militants who just stabbed people in middle of the road," Dela Cruz said.
She stressedt she would never return to Israel because of what happened to them.
"Ayoko na," OFW said.
She added most Filipino caregivers suffered "panic attacks."
16 of 17 OFWs were met at NAIA by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac, Sen. Ruffy Tulfo, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) deputy director General John Bertiz III, OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino and Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
Cacdac said only 16 OFWs were able to come home because one was sick and not physically fit to board flight.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) earlier said 18 Filipinos from Israel would receive financial assistance for work disrupted by war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.
OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio earlier said most Filipinos who arrived in the country were actually scheduled to come home and not because of conflict.
"So far, we have brought home 28 Filipinos up to Oct. 14. These people returned home, not because of conflict. ..many of them are scheduled to come home early," Ignacio said.
He added Philippine government has been helping in bringing Filipinos back home from Israel since Oct. 10.
OWWA, in collaboration with DMW, will give assistance to OFWs whose livelihoods were disrupted by ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Agency will lend P50,000 assistance, while DMW will provide counterpart funding, also worth P50,000.
Ignacio said assistance is higher than usual because of pay OFWs in Israel usually get.
TESDA also gave OFWs P5,000 cash and certificate to avail of scholarship program.
Evacuation of Filipinos from Gaza is now mandatory, after DFA raised Alert Level 4 over area amid ongoing air strikes and deepening crisis.
"What we mean by 'mandatory' is that we are not coming to you and pulling you out, but we are telling you to evacuate, it is up to you what happens to you, because Israel will be attacking Gaza," De Vega said in interview.
Philippine government will not be able to help Filipinos if situation worsens, according to DFA official. "We're ready, but no one can enter or exit Gaza," he said.
Philippine government has already accounted for 131 Filipinos in Gaza, at least 78 of whom are now situated near Rafah border crossing near Egypt.
"All the rest have left northern Gaza or Gaza City, expected to be main site for hostilities, Philippine government continues to work on repatriation of our nationals and will provide updates on developments," DFA said.
Militant Hamas' surprise incursion has prompted intense aerial bombardment by Israel, complete siege of Gaza Strip and order to evacuate northern part of enclave within 24 hours, began last Thursday evening, local time.
Israeli forces hammered Gaza, resulting in more than 2,000 dead, and prepared for ground invasion after attack by Hamas that triggered bloodiest war in the country's territory in decades.
Israel said more than 1,300 citizens and foreigners had been brutally massacred by Hamas, and that roughly 2,500 terrorists have entered the country.
Following these developments, special team composed of personnel from various government agencies has been deployed at NAIA to assist OFWs returning home from war-torn Israel.
DMW has joined forces with various government agencies in providing assistance to returning OFWs.
"Government agencies will provide immediate assistance and other forms of support, including psycho-social counseling, stress debriefing, medical referral and temporary accommodation to OFWs while awaiting transit to their respective provinces," agency said.
Labor Attaché Rodolfo Gabasan of Migrant Workers Office in Tel-Aviv, Vice Consul Patricia Narajos and welfare officer Dina Ponciano escorted group of 17 OFWs at Ben Gurion International Airport, where they boarded their return flight to Philippines.
Meanwhile, Philippine embassy in Beirut has urged Filipinos close to Lebanon's southern border to evacuate preemptively amid persistent tension in the area.
"Due to persistent tension in Lebanon's southern border, posing significant threat to safety and security of civilian residents, Philippine embassy urges all Filipino nationals close to border to evacuate preemptively to ensure their well-being and security," embassy said in its advisory.
Since violence escalated between Israel and occupied Palestinian territory on Oct. 7, there have also been reports of clashes in border between Israel and south Lebanon, resulting in casualties among civilians.
Israeli military intercepted five of nine rockets fired from Lebanon.
Israel has no interest in waging war on its northern front if Lebanese group Hezbollah restrains itself.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has prepared military aircraft for repatriation of Filipinos caught in conflict in Israel should Philippine government raise Alert Level 4 over the country.
"If Department of Foreign Affairs recommend, and the President direct us to fly our assets to where they should be, airport of embarkation, then we will do it for the sake of our nation," AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar told media.
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