Owing to the imminence of war and the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East, the deployment of Filipino overseas workers to Iraq, Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel shall be temporarily suspended, effective immediately and until further notice. The suspension shall cover the deployment of all workers including those who are here on vacation. The POEA shall issue the necessary guidelines to implement this Order.

Further, the POEA and OWWA are ordered to reinforce their respective Action Centers to respond to the needs of the OFWs, their families, licensed recruitment agencies and foreign employers related to the crisis. These centers shall be operated on a 24-hour and 7-days a week basis. Moreover, the POEA and OWWA shall send their representatives to the round-the-clock DOLE DFA Information Center at the DFA.

All labor attaches and OWWA welfare officers in the Middle East are also hereby instructed to closely monitor the situation in their respective areas and to ensure that OFWs are properly assisted.

For strict compliance.

Adopted: 20 Mar. 2003

(SGD.) MANUEL G. IMSON
  Acting Secretary