a day ago
PH Embassy in Israel preparing contingency plans amid airstrikes
The Philippine Embassy in Israel has convened its crisis management team, bringing together key embassy officials and representatives from the Migrant Workers Office of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), to review contingency measures as deadly airstrikes send jitters in the country and across the region.
Ambassador Aileen Mendiola-Rau confirmed that previously identified shelters for Filipinos have been reactivated and essential goods have been pre-positioned across various locations in Israel.
"[We convened] to review the contingency plan. Tapos tignan 'yung current situation kung anong nangyayari. Doon sa meeting namin kahapon, we discussed 'yung purchasing once again ng mga essential goods na puwede i-preposition sa mga iba-ibang locations natin dito sa Israel," Mendiola-Rau said.
(We are reviewing the contingency plan and the current situation. We'll see what will happen. In our meeting yesterday, we discussed again the purchase of essential goods that we can pre-position at different locations here in Israel.)
She added, "Chineck din natin status ng mga shelters, 'yung mga ginamit din natin the last time, no? Nu'ng nandito ka. So, nire-renew natin yung mga usap, 'yung mga arrangements natin doon sa mga shelters na 'yun para 'pag gumrabe pa 'yung sitwasyon, our people have somewhere to go."
(The status of shelters that we used last time was also checked. We renewed talks and arrangements for those shelters so that if the situation worsens, our people have somewhere to go.)
Residents in Israel, including Filipinos, are witnessing relentless airstrikes and rocket alerts, with security apps frequently updating them on the situation.
"Ang nai-encounter natin ngayon since yesterday, barrage of missiles, walang humpay eh, sa iba-ibang parts sa iba-ibang parts ng Israel," Mendiola-Rau stated.
(Since yesterday, we have encountered a barrage of missiles that seem relentless. These hit different parts of Israel.)
LIST: DMW shares hotlines amid Israel-Iran tensions
More than 50,000 Filipinos either work or reside in Israel, many of whom are accustomed to conflict situations.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) told reporters at a Saturday press conference in Quezon City that the figure is at 20,000 Filipinos in Israel, 13,000 of whom are documented and 6,000 are undocumented.
DMW offices across the Middle East were placed under heightened alert due to the Israel-Iran conflict.
As of posting time, no Filipino casualties have been reported.
Although a mandatory evacuation order has yet to be issued, nine OFWs have already contacted the embassy, expressing their desire for repatriation according to the Philippine Embassy. However, both Israeli and Jordanian airspace remained closed, halting outbound flights.
The embassy is now exploring alternative evacuation routes.
"We're checking 'yung mga possibilities kung paano ma-repatriate ang mga kababayan natin. Kasi ang airspace ngayon ng Israel at ng Jordan, closed eh. So walang aircrafts na puwede mag-take off... So we're looking at other possibilities in case na lumala pa 'yung sitwasyon. We're doing, we're coming up with plans to bring our people out. Not by air but probably by land towards Jordan or towards Egypt. Tapos siyempre, ico-consider natin din 'yung repatriation by sea," she said.
(We're checking possibilities on how to repatriate our countrymen. The airspace over Israel and Jordan is closed. No aircraft can take off... So, we're looking at other possibilities in case the situation worsens. We're doing, we're coming up with plans to bring our people out. Not by air but probably by land towards Jordan or towards Egypt. Of course, we are considering repatriation by sea.)
The Philippine Embassy has urged Filipinos in Israel to strictly follow government-issued safety protocols, including avoiding outdoor movement, refraining from gatherings like Sunday Mass, and immediately heading to bomb shelters upon receiving alerts or hearing rocket sirens.
— VDV, GMA Integrated News
