Gov't focusing on situation, welfare of affected Filipinos in Israel, Gaza;

Gov't focusing on situation, welfare of affected Filipinos in Israel, Gaza;  Placing Gaza under Alert Level 3 recommended

Transcript

00:00 The 130 Filipinos identified to be living in Gaza are in the crosshairs of the DFA and

00:06 Department of Migrant Workers as airstrikes and bombardment from artillery fire from the

00:12 Israeli Defense Forces continue to pound the Palestinian enclave.

00:18 So much so, hoisting an alert level 3 in the Gaza Strip has been recommended even as no

00:23 travel ban has been issued thus far going to and out of the Holy Land.

00:30 Our Alan Francisco has the full report.

00:35 The government is focusing on the situation and welfare of the Filipinos who are now stuck

00:40 in place in the war between Israel and Hamas.

00:44 Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the government is taking a whole

00:48 of government approach to help the Pinoys in Israel and Gaza.

00:52 More than 30,000 Filipinos are in Israel today while more than 130 Pinoys are settled and

00:58 living in Gaza.

00:59 It does not involve only the DFA and the DMW including the MWOA but we are meeting with

01:07 other government agencies such as the DND, DSWD, DOLE, TESDA and other offices as we

01:15 work together to ensure the safety and protection of our fellow citizens in Israel and Gaza.

01:22 OWA is in a 24-hour non-stop work mode and we are also in full cooperation and full coordination

01:30 with the DFA, the DMW and the IDF in Israel.

01:37 And we put up a command center in OWA and currently, there are several of our fellow

01:44 citizens who are in need of help.

01:47 Some Filipinos are reportedly unaccounted for.

01:50 The DFA says no Filipinos have yet expressed the will to repatriate from Israel.

01:56 No alert level exists so repatriation is still not recommended.

02:00 While in Gaza, the implementation of alert level 3 is recommended.

02:04 Which is voluntary repatriation.

02:07 So this will be clear with the President.

02:11 As for Israel, our embassy has not yet made a recommendation although we are working,

02:15 our task force is working by the presumption that we are in the precautionary phase because

02:18 we have to prepare.

02:19 No?

02:20 Deployment of OFWs in Israel is on hold due to the situation.

02:25 Meanwhile, there is no travel ban in Israel yet but the Israel embassy first issued a

02:29 travel advisory.

02:31 The DFA advised Filipinos to avoid traveling to Israel while hostilities in Gaza Strip

02:36 are still ongoing.

02:38 But we're advising you it's best possible to postpone them until we're absolutely sure

02:44 that the hostilities have ended because after all, even the Prime Minister of Israel has

02:50 said that we're in a state of war.

02:52 Alan Francisco for The Nation.