ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Israel’s ambassador to the Philippines assured thousands of overseas Filipino workers in her country Thursday that they are protected under the same security measures afforded to Israeli citizens, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to claim lives and unsettle migrant communities abroad.
Ambassador Dana Kursh, speaking to reporters during a two-day visit to Iloilo City, said Israeli authorities are committed to the safety of the approximately 30,000 Filipinos working in the country.
“To every family of an OFW here in Western Visayas and Iloilo, I promise that the authorities of Israel and the people of Israel will make sure that OFWs in Israel are safe,” Kursh said. “I do hope and pray for peace that will come to the region.”
Kursh outlined a three-tiered security framework available to all residents, including foreign workers. The first layer consists of a mobile application that alerts users to missile launches. The second comprises a network of safe houses and public shelters accessible to everyone. The third is Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, which intercepts incoming projectiles.
The ambassador acknowledged that the ongoing conflict has not spared the Filipino migrant community. Eight overseas Filipino workers have died since hostilities escalated in October 2023. Kursh said the Israeli government is actively reaching out to the victims’ families to ensure they are being supported.
“We can try as much as we can to put them at ease and to show them that we are with them,” she said.
Kursh also noted that Israeli law extending lifetime compensation to the immediate families of those killed or affected by war and terrorism applies equally to overseas Filipino workers — a provision she described as a meaningful expression of solidarity.
She praised the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for their efforts in supporting Filipino workers across the Middle East.
“We have 30,000 OFWs in Israel. For us, OFWs are very much cherished,” Kursh said.
During her visit to Iloilo, the ambassador held meetings with local political leaders and representatives from the business sector. The Philippines is one of the largest sources of migrant labor in the Middle East, with hundreds of thousands of workers deployed across the region.
