The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is communicating with government agencies in responding to the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Israel amid the unprecedented attacks by the militant group Hamas.

OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio told DZRH on Monday, Oct. 9, that he had been in talks with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ever since the event occurred.

“Naka-ready lamang po kami kasi ngayon ang hinihintay natin ay full clearance na tayo ay makapag-responde dahil ang palitan ng putukan ay matindi,” he said.

Ignacio advised the public to defer from circulating unverified videos as it would only jeopardize their situations and instill fear.

This came after verified videos sent by families of OFWs resulted in some of the individuals not being Filipino citizens.

“We assure you, [that] we have our people monitoring diyan. [...] Nakaabang, nakaantabay, at ready na tayo umaksyon as soon as we get full clearance from the Israeli government, pwede na tayong pumasok,” the OWWA administrator said.

Ignacio added that for OFW concerns, the public is advised to call the OWWA hotline: 1348 for Metro Manila and 021348 for those outside of the metro.