In the light of the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced a total deployment ban on areas at Alert Level 4 in the Gaza strip.

Meanwhile, the processing of papers and deployment of newly hired Filipino workers to the Southern and Central districts in lsrael is also temporarily suspended. The areas inIsraelwhich are included in the ban are Sderot, Beersheva,Ashdod, Ashkelon, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The said areas are under Alert Level 2 so only vacationing or returning workers would be allowed to be deployed.

The ban which was implemented after consultations with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) took effect under POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 14 Series of 2012.

For the traveler’s security and protection, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) discourages Filipinos from traveling to Gaza.

In the travel advisory it released, the DFA said, “Due to the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the DFA strongly advises Filipinos to defer travel to Gaza and Central and Southern Israel.”

A report from Agence France-Presse said that a ceasefire negotiated by the Egyptians ended the violence that lasted for more than a week between the Hamas and Israeli forces.

According to the health ministry of the Hamas, 163 Palestinians had been killed and 1,235 wounded, while six people, including a soldier and a reserve officer, were killed inIsraeland another 280 wounded.

The DFA said,”The public will be informed of further developments.”

In the light of bomb explosion incidents that were reported in Bahrain last November 5, the Philippine Embassy there advised Filipinos to exercise caution, remain alert and avoid going out.

The bomb explosions in two separate areas happened in the Qudaibiya and Adliya districts of Manama between 4:30 and 9:30 a.m. The Bahrain police reported that the bombers used homemade bombs. No Filipino was hurt but the unfortunate incident claimed the lives of two Asian street cleaners.

The Philippine Embassy continues to monitor the security and political situation in the said country so they can provide sound advice and updates for Filipinos there.

To avoid getting lured by illegal recruiters, Cacdac advised jobseekers to apply only to POEA-licensed recruitment agencies or send their resumes only to popular overseas recruitment websites.

The POEA lists down tips on how to identify illegal recruiters:

•        Applicants are asked to send resume and application through postal mail or drop boxes.
•        The website is crudely made with incomplete links and information about the company
•      The e-mail address used has nothing to do with the real company
•       Thejob offerreceived through e-mail is unsolicited
•       Mistakes inEnglishgrammar and spelling in the website or e-mail
•       Applicants are asked to pay in advance through a courier or remittance company supposedly for training, work permit, and other travel documents
•       Money-back guarantee offer
•       The salary and other benefits such as free food and accommodation are too-good-to-be- true
•        Applicants are asked to send details of bank or credit card account

Cacdac also warned the public about websites that uses the name POEA in their domain and website names. He reminded the public that the only and official website of POEA is www.poea.gov.ph.

Filipinos can now be deployed in Libya and in Northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan Region) as the government lifts the deployment ban in the said countries. The lifting means that the gobvernment deemed tyhe two countries to be safe for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

This development is expected to open more overseas job opportunities for Filipino workers. Reports from recruitment leaders say that thousands of job orders for hotel and medical workers are already waiting for OFWs in Northern Iraq and Libya.

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