Bong Go urged government agencies to prepare a repatriation plan for overseas Filipino workers as tensions in the Middle East raise concerns about the safety of Filipinos working in the region. The senator said authorities should activate contingency measures similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic so the government can bring home Filipinos quickly if the situation escalates.
Go raised the call as officials continue monitoring developments in the Middle East, a region that hosts large communities of overseas Filipino workers. Many Filipinos are employed in countries across the area, making any regional instability a concern for workers and their families in the Philippines.
The senator said the government should coordinate early to ensure repatriation operations can be launched without delay. He urged the Department of Foreign Affairs, and other concerned agencies to maintain close coordination and ensure that assistance systems remain ready if evacuation becomes necessary.
“Dapat handa ang ating pamahalaan sa anumang mangyari. Kung kinakailangan, dapat may malinaw tayong plano kung paano uuwi ang ating mga kababayan,” Go said.
Go also called for round-the-clock hotlines so overseas Filipino workers can contact government offices if they need assistance or information. He said accessible communication channels will allow authorities to respond quickly to concerns from Filipinos abroad.
The senator referred to the large-scale repatriation efforts carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, when thousands of overseas Filipino workers were brought home after travel restrictions and economic disruptions affected employment abroad. He said those operations demonstrated how government agencies can mobilize resources during emergencies.
Go said maintaining a clear repatriation strategy and active communication with Filipino communities abroad will allow the government to respond quickly if conditions in the Middle East require evacuation or assistance for Filipino workers.
