MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was maintaining existing crisis alert levels in at least eight countries in the Middle East affected by the armed conflict involving Iran, and Israel and the United States.
In a statement on Monday, the DFA said it had coordinated with Philippine embassies and consulates over the past 72 hours, which remain “on the ground and vigilant” in their respective jurisdictions.
The department said concerned officials continued to monitor security developments and assess the condition of thousands of Filipinos living and working in the region.
The DFA urged Filipinos to heed local authorities and comply with travel advisories as instability persists in several areas.
It urged Filipinos in affected areas to follow the advisories of their host governments, remain vigilant, and observe all relevant travel advisories.
Under the current framework, the highest alert — Level 4, or mandatory evacuation — remains in effect for Syria and Yemen, as well as in Gaza.
At this level, Filipinos are urged to evacuate and join government-led repatriation efforts, and travel to those areas is prohibited.
Alert Level 3, which calls for voluntary repatriation, remains in place for Iraq and Lebanon.
The designation reflects significant unrest or the threat of imminent external attack. Filipinos in these countries are advised to consider relocation or returning to the Philippines, and nonessential travel is strongly discouraged.
Several other areas are under Alert Level 2, or the restriction phase, including Iran, the Kurdish region of Iraq, the State of Israel and the West Bank.
Under this level, Filipinos are urged to shelter in place, avoid high-risk areas and limit nonessential movement, as embassies activate contingency plans.
Jordan remains under Alert Level 1, the precautionary phase, indicating limited or localized threats. Filipinos there are advised to exercise normal caution and avoid affected areas.
The department said crisis management teams and contingency plans had been activated as required under each alert level.