Iloilo: Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh on Thursday assured that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in their country are getting the same "security umbrella" as the Israelis. 'To every family of OFW here in Western Visayas and Iloilo, I promise that the authorities of Israel and the people of Israel will make sure that OFWs in Israel are safe. I do hope and pray for peace that will come to the region,' Kursh said in a media interview.

According to Philippines News Agency, she praised the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for doing wonders for the Filipino migrant workers in the Middle East. Kursh explained that Israel's security umbrella has layers: the first layer is through an application on their phone, where they are being notified when there is a missile launch; another is a safe home or shelters open to everyone; and the third layer is the Iron Dome, a defense system that intercepts missiles.

It is unfortunate, she said, that there are OFWs who have died due to the crisis in Israel. She said the Israeli government is reaching out to the families of the eight who perished since Oct. 2023 to make sure they are being taken care of. 'We can try as much as we can to put an ease and to show them that we are with them,' Kursh said.

She added that their law extending lifetime compensation to the close families of those affected by war and terrorism is also available to OFWs. 'We have 30,000 OFWs in Israel. For us, OFWs are very much cherished,' she said. The Israeli envoy is on a two-day visit to Iloilo, where she met with local political leaders and the business sector.