Senate reso: OFW repatriation for ‘necessary situations’ only

MANILA,  Philippines – The repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East should be undertaken only “in necessary situations,”  according to a resolution adopted by the Senate.

This was clarified in Senate Resolution (SR) No. 325, urging  the Philippine government to undertake measures that would ensure the protection, “and in necessary situations,” the repatriation of OFWs in areas affected by the growing regional conflict.

It was adopted on the Senate floor on Tuesday as SR. No. 41. All  24 senators, including Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa,  were made authors of the resolution.  Dela Rosa has been absent from the Senate since November after reports came out that a warrant of arrest has been issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the previous administration’s war on drugs.

READ: 22 senators call for protection, repatriation of OFWs in Middle East

The phrase “and in necessary situations” was inserted in the resolution upon the request of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano,  according to its principal author, Sen. Francis “Kiko”  Pangilinan when it was tackled in the plenary.

This explained why Cayetano did not sign the earlier version of  the resolution.

According to him, an “immediate blanket call for repatriation could unintentionally create anxiety among employers and workers and disrupt ongoing diplomatic and labor arrangements.”

“The change ensures that the government remains ready to bring Filipinos home when required, while recognizing that decisions must be based on actual conditions on the ground,” Cayetano explained in a press release ob Wednesday.

In pushing for this amendment,  the senator emphasized the need for “calm, coordinated, and carefully calibrated government action” to protect OFWs amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

He also underscored the importance of ensuring that government resources intended for the protection of Filipinos abroad, including the Assistance to Nationals Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the AKSYON Fund of the Department of Migrant Workers,  are fully mobilized.

The senator likewise stressed the importance of a whole-of-government response to the situation, with the Department of Foreign Affairs providing leadership in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers and other relevant agencies in monitoring developments, assisting Filipinos abroad, and preparing contingency plans when necessary.

“Protecting OFWs requires both compassion and institutional discipline, ensuring that government responses are grounded in expert assessments while remaining sensitive to the livelihoods, dignity, and stability of Filipino workers overseas,” Cayetano said. /jpv