THE Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv yesterday said 223 Filipinos living and working in Israel have asked to be repatriated to Manila amid the exchange of air and missile strikes between Israel and Iran.
Of the number, the embassy said 26 have confirmed their requests, which it said are now being processed. There are 30,742 Filipinos in Israel.
The embassy said last June 19, it assisted five Filipinos in crossing to Jordan.
It also reported that 88 Filipinos lost their homes due to Iran’s missile attacks on Israel.
It said it has provided assistance, including cash, food provisions and basic items to 311 Filipinos.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan said it assisted six Filipinos — one engineer, four tourists, and one worker who crossed the Jordanian border from Israel last week.
“To date, the Philippine Embassy has provided assistance to a total of 27 Filipinos from Israel who have crossed the Allenby Land Pass and King Hussein Border from 18 to 19 June 2025, respectively,” the embassy said.
“The Philippine Embassy in Amman is making necessary preparations for the next group of overseas Filipino workers set to cross. Ocular inspections of the border are currently being conducted,” it added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) over the weekend placed Israel and Iran under Alert Level 3, calling for the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in the two warring nations.
Yesterday, the DFA said it has no plans yet to raise the alert level in Israel and Iran despite the US air and missile strikes on three nuclear-related facilities in Iran.
“No plans yet,” DFA Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer said in a Viber message when asked for an update.
Alert Level 4, the highest in the four-tiered alert level, calls for full mandatory evacuation of all Filipinos living or working in the two countries.
Last week, Ferrer said the situation in Israel and Iran has yet to reach the point when mandatory evacuation becomes essential, noting that the order would only be issued if there is a full-scale civil conflict or unrest, or a full-blown external attack.
He said Philippine authorities are closely monitoring the situation and would make the necessary adjustments when necessary.
“You may argue that there was a full-blown attack from Iran on Israel, but the assessment will come from the ambassador on the ground,” he said.
PINOYS
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer said the DFA has yet to get information on whether there were Filipinos hurt in the airstrikes carried out by US forces in Iran.
“Wala pa tayong impormasyon kung may mga Pilipino dun sa mga binombang pasilidad sa Iran, but we already told our kababayans to stay away from Iranian facilities (We have no information yet if there are Filipinos living near the facilities bombed in Iran, but we already told Filipinos in Iran to stay away from Iranian facilities),” Ferrer told radio dzBB.
He has said that nine out of the 1,180 Filipinos in Iran have requested repatriation to Manila.
Earlier, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega said they are looking at getting out Filipinos in Iran via Turkmenistan, but he said this will take some time due to the distance, a point which was echoed by Ferrer.
“It’s very hard to move from Tehran to the Turkmenistan border. It’s a 13-hour drive. I think in the next few days, they will be able to do it with God’s help,” Ferrer said.
Over the weekend, the Philippine Embassy in Israel said that the number of Filipinos injured in missile attacks by Iran since last week has increased to eight.
In a post on its social media account early Sunday morning (Philippine time), the embassy said six of the eight have been discharged after receiving treatment for minor injuries, while one was released from the hospital after undergoing surgery.
“But one is in critical condition with severe and life-threatening injuries. She underwent a major pulmonary surgery at Shamir Medical Center, one of Israel’s most advanced hospitals. She is still in the ICU and will need to undergo another surgery once stable,” the embassy said.
‘COME HOME’
As hostilities and tension continue to escalate in the Middle East, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) yesterday reiterated the call of the Philippine government for Filipinos in Israel and Iran to return home.
In a social media post, OWWA said it is necessary for OFWs in the two warring states to seek repatriation now that Iran and Israel are both under Alert Level 3.
“For those looking to avail of the voluntary repatriation program of OWWA, we are here to assist anywhere you are,” it said.
The agency said those who will avail of the voluntary repatriation program are advised to send e-mails to israel@owwa.gov.ph, and attach a copy of their passport, latest visa, and mobile number.
Inquiries, on the other hand, may be done via OWWA Hotline 1348 and Messenger (OWWA Operations Center).
FUEL SUBSIDY
Sen. Raffy Tulfo yesterday urged concerned government agencies to ensure the timely distribution of fuel subsidies to public utility drivers and operators in the wake of the projected oil price increases due to the Israel-Iran war.
Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, noted that there have been instances in the past when the distribution of fuel subsidies has been delayed.
He said the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board should have proper guidelines for the distribution of fuel subsidies to make sure that its intended beneficiaries will receive the assistance.
He also said his office will monitor the distribution “to make sure that the rightful beneficiaries get the support they need, when they need it the most.” – With Gerard Naval and Raymond Africa
