SEN. Joel Villanueva on Tuesday called for stronger emergency assistance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), following reported Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia that injured four Filipinos.
Three of the four reportedly required intensive care.
Villanueva condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.
“Our OFWs should never face danger alone,” he said.
Villanueva commended the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for their immediate response to the incident.
The senator said a more responsive system to assist Filipinos caught in emergencies overseas is needed, noting a combined P11 billion was allocated to the DMW and OWWA in the 2027 National Expenditure Program.
The Aksyon Fund and Emergency Response Funds, Villanueva said, are enough to meet the needs of Filipinos affected by overseas crises.
Villanueva said the government must be prepared to respond to the risks faced by Filipino workers amid volatile geopolitical conditions.
“When the lives and safety of our fellow citizens are at stake, action cannot be slow,” he said.
The senator stressed that OFWs, whom the country regards as modern-day heroes for their contributions to the economy, must be assured of aid during emergencies.
“They must know that their government will stand by them, protect them, and act when their lives are on the line,” he said.
