QUEZON CITY (PIA) –- The Philippine government has guaranteed to extend aid to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been affected by the Kuwaiti government's decision to suspend work visas.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said in a media forum that the affected OFWs will be encompassed within the Department of Migrant Workers' (DMW) National Reintegration Program.

“Para mabigyan sila ng tulong at ayuda considering alam nila kung ano iyong mga pinagdaanan at alam nila what they had to give up just to the flight to Kuwait,” Cortes said.

The National Reintegration Program provides OFWs and their families with opportunities for accessing projects and services that would help them mitigate the social cost of migration and cushion the impact of forced repatriation due to unexpected events.

According to Cortes, the Kuwaiti government's decision to suspend work visas solely applies to Filipino individuals who possess new entry visas or intend to enter the country for the first time for employment purposes.

“We were told na it is only for those na bago – meaning kung wala kang resident visa o iyong tinatawag nilang ‘iqama’… hindi ka pwede pumasok. Pero kung babalik ka ng Kuwait dahil doon ka naman na nagtatrabaho at — iyon nga, have been living there, working there, pwede ka namang pumasok,” Cortes shared.

Representatives from the DFA and DMW are also set to travel to Kuwait as part of the ongoing discussions concerning labor concerns and issues between the Philippines and Kuwait.

Meanwhile, amid escalating tensions with neighboring China, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman Silvestre Bello III gave assurance that the government is looking out for the welfare and well-being of Filipinos residing in Taiwan.

“So, we would like to assure you, everyone. I’ll take this opportunity to inform you… in Taiwan everything is normal and, if in the remote possibility na magkaroon ng emergency situation, like for example earthquake, mga lindol o even war, preparado po ang Taiwan government not only in protecting their own people but even the Filipinos, especially our workers,” Bello said at a media forum in Quezon City.

He also added that the National Police Agency of Taiwan has also guaranteed that Filipinos there would be secured and protected.

“I met with the Director General together with the head of the Home Civilian Defense of Taiwan and they assured us na iyong ating mga kababayan ay protektado nila,” Bello said, noting that Taiwan has 89,000 shelters that can accommodate more than its total population.

According to the MECO official, 90% of the factories in Taiwan are serviced by Filipino workers. Approximately 160,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are in factories, while the remaining portion consists of highly skilled teachers, farmers, and workers in the hospitality industry.

“So, huwag po kayong mag-alala… everything is normal, our OFWs there are safe and there is no danger of what you call confrontation between China and Taiwan,” he emphasized.

The government, through the DFA, reassured the public that contingency plans have been firmly established in areas where there is a high concentration of Filipino workers. (EEDC/PIA-CPSD)