As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers has issued a serious warning for Filipino seafarers.
The agency has officially declared the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz as a “War Risk Operations Area,” highlighting the growing dangers in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
Speaking in a report on 24 Oras Weekend, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac urged Filipino seafarers to avoid sailing through the area for their safety.
According to Cacdac, Filipino crew members should not be assigned to vessels traveling through the high-risk zone. If they are, they must be given the right to refuse sailing due to the dangerous situation.
He stressed that the region is currently extremely unsafe, and avoiding the area is the best way to protect Filipino seafarers working abroad.
While the warning was being issued, the Philippine government was also closely monitoring the safety of Filipinos across the region.
In Doha, Qatar, one Filipino was reported wounded amid the ongoing conflict.
According to the Embassy of the Philippines in Qatar, the Filipino national suffered minor injuries from shrapnel after a missile was intercepted. Fortunately, the individual is now safe and recovering.
The embassy also revealed that 29 Filipinos currently in Qatar have temporarily left their homes. They are now staying in temporary accommodations after authorities identified their residences as being close to potential danger zones.
Meanwhile, relief came for dozens of overseas Filipinos.
A group of 61 Filipinos from Dubai, United Arab Emirates safely arrived in Manila on Sunday after being repatriated by the Philippine government.
In Tel Aviv, Israel, 35 Filipino pilgrims and tourists were also assisted by the Philippine Embassy in crossing the border to safer areas in Egypt and Jordan.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the government continues to work tirelessly to help Filipinos stranded in the region.
As of March 7, 82 out of 113 initially stranded Filipinos have already departed from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan.
They were flown to several transit hubs—including Cairo, Dubai, Mumbai, and Riyadh—where they boarded connecting flights bound for Manila.
However, the mission is not yet over.
The Philippine Embassy is still assisting the remaining 31 Filipino tourists currently in Amman, ensuring they too can safely return home.
As uncertainty continues in the region, the Philippine government says its priority remains clear: protecting the lives and safety of Filipinos—wherever they may be in the world.
