The Quezon City Government has mobilized a special inter-agency task force to protect and assist QCitizen overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Through Executive Order No. 5 s-2026, Mayor Joy Belmonte created Task Force AGAP–QC OFW—or Assistance, Guidance, Advocacy, and Protection of QCitizen Overseas Filipino Workers—and directed the Quezon City Public Employment Service Office (QC PESO) to lead the city’s coordinated response for affected migrant workers and their families.
The task force will serve as the local government’s mechanism for crisis response, closely coordinating with national government agencies to monitor the situation, provide immediate assistance, and facilitate the safe repatriation of QC OFWs who may be affected by the conflict.
“We want to assure our QCitizens in the Middle East that they are not alone during this time of crisis,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
“Our city government is closely coordinating with national government agencies to ensure that they receive the assistance and protection they need. We urge our fellow QCitizens abroad to remain vigilant and prioritize their safety as the situation continues to unfold,” she added.
Based on recent data, around 1,400 QCitizens are currently residing across countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan.
QC PESO is now coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to help expedite the repatriation of Quezon City OFWs who may be affected by the conflict.
Beyond repatriation, Task Force AGAP–QC OFW is also mandated to provide a full range of support services for affected workers and their families. These include crisis response, psychosocial support, job matching opportunities, skills retooling, livelihood assistance, and access to overseas employment opportunities in non-conflict areas.
The task force will also streamline referrals to social protection services and other city government programs to ensure that OFWs and their families can quickly access the assistance available to them. Support mechanisms are also being prepared for workers whose deployment may be affected by the ongoing conflict.
The Quezon City Government likewise urged QCitizen OFWs to remain vigilant and to strictly follow the advisories and directives issued by the Philippine Embassy and other concerned Philippine government agencies in their host countries.
OFWs and their families who need assistance may coordinate with the Quezon City Migrant Resource Center (MRC) under QC PESO, which serves as the city’s one-stop help desk for migrant workers.
The MRC provides information services, case assistance, psychosocial support, and referrals to government programs for OFWs and their families affected by crises and other migration-related concerns.
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