Kapakanan at seguridad ng mga naiipit sa sigalot sa Middle East dapat asikasuhin, panawagan sa ahensya ng gobyerno

NANAWAGAN ang Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), at iba pang ahensiya ng gobyerno na kaagyat na asikasuhin ang kapakanan at seguridad ng mga manggagawang Pilipino na naipit ng sigalot sa Middle East.

“We urge all relevant authorities to work triple-time and activate 24/7 rapid response systems. Clear, consistent, and real-time communication must be established with our kababayan on the ground, especially on critical matters such as their right to refuse unsafe work, access to emergency shelters, updated travel advisories, and verified hotline numbers,” pahayag ni TUCP Party-list Representative at House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza.

Kasabay nito, nanawagan naman ang Makabayan bloc ng mga mambabatas sa Kamara sa gobyerno na magpatupad ng contingency measures bilang tugon sa tumataas na presyo ng langis dulot ng nagaganap na giyera sa pagitan ng US, Israel at Iran.

“The Filipino people are already suffering from weekly oil price hikes, but with the US-Israeli attack on Iran oil prices skyrocketied by P15.00 per liter for diesel, P7.00 for gasoline, and P28.00 for kerosene in just three days. This is a direct blow to drivers, farmers, fisherfolk, workers, and every Filipino family,” pahayag ng Makabayan bloc.

Anila, dapat sertipikahan ni Pangulong Marcos ang House Bill 215, o Presyo Ibaba Bill, para tanggalin ang excise tax at VAT sa langis, kuryente, tubig at pagkain.

“A long-term solution is also required, including the passage of reform bills to regulate the oil industry and the renationalization of Petron. Hindi lamang krisis sa seguridad ang digmaan ng US at Israel—krisis din ito sa kabuhayan para sa atin. Dapat kumilos agad ang mga nasa poder, at dapat nilang gawin ang agarang aksyon,” dagdag ng Makabayan.

Sinabi naman ng TUCP ang naging pahayag ni U.S. President Donald Trump na magpapatuloy ang pag-atake sa Iran “uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary,” kung saan ipinapakita ang paglala ng sitwasyon.

“The (Philippine) Government must revisit, update, and fully operationalize its contingency and repatriation plans with definitive timelines, clear protocols, and ready logistical support, particularly for the thousands of Filipinos in Iran and the millions more in the entire Middle East, who may wish to return home. Our kababayan demand and deserve a proactive response that is accessible and deployable at a moment’s notice,” pahayag ni Mendoza. (Vina de Guzman)