State Dining Room, Malacañan Palace
October 12, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated the government’s efforts anew in providing assistance to Filipinos affected by the ongoing conflict in Israel as he convened with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and various agencies at the State Dining Room in Malacañan Palace.

During the meeting, the President reaffirmed the Administration’s close monitoring of the conflict and coordination with the Israeli government for updates on the latest situation, in order to ensure the safety and welfare of all Filipinos living in the war-stricken country.

He ordered a whole-of-government approach in dealing with the situation and urged all concerned agencies, particularly the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), to come up with strong repatriation plans and explore all evacuation strategies to assist affected Filipinos.

The Chief Executive reassured those who will be repatriated of the government’s continuous assistance to address their immediate needs, which include financial, livelihood, scholarship and food assistance, among others.

According to the DFA, there are around 30,500 Filipinos living in Israel. Of this number, 99% are working as caregivers. As of the latest information, there are currently four (4) Filipinos missing and two (2) confirmed deaths. The DFA has already raised Crisis Alerts Level 2 and 3 in Israel and the Gaza Strip.

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