The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) assured safety of Filipino workers in Israel after the counter-offensive of Hezbollah soldiers that reportedly killed several Israeli civilians and soldiers.

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said Filipinos workers in Israel are believed not to be in immediate danger since they are working far from the conflict in the country’s north.

The DoLE also reported that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Israel has registered every overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) ) in northern Israel in order to secure their safety from the rocket attacks reported in the area. This measure would help ensure the safety and welfare of the OFWs.

The Philippine Labor Attaché to Tel Aviv Teresita R. Manzala informed Sec. Brion that despite possible exposure to rocket and missile fire in northern Israel, the POLO has undertaken the registration of any OFWs in the area through e-mail, telephone/short messaging system, and as walk-in clients.

Brion said that the barrage of Hezbollah rockets was isolated and landed on areas where there are no Filipinos.   

Reports says that the latest attack of Hezbollah rockets landed near the northern Israeli cities of Tiberias, Kiryat Shmona, Maalot, Nahariya and north of Haifa.

“Based on the reports sent to us by Labor Attache to Israel Teresita Manzala, we have no Filipino casualty because the target areas of Hezbollah fighters are far from where Filipinos work,” Brion said.

“But our people in our Labor office in Israel have already been implementing our contingency plan in the event that Hezbollah offensive on Israel escalates and become widespread,” added Brion.

The Philippine Labor Attaché from countries around Israel and Lebanon was asked by the Labor Chief to take a close monitor with the developments in the armed conflict to be able to act immediately and help in evacuation of many OFWs there.

Meanwhile, Filipino doctors from Saudi Arabia have been put on standby in case there are Filipinos who will need their medical assistance.