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Cacdac said the Philippine government is already processing repatriation requests.

- — With Pia Lee-Brago, Jose Rodel Clapano, Christine Boton, Emmanuel Tupas, Gerry Lee Gorit, Rudy Santos

He noted that 28 of those who availed themselves of voluntary repatriation are already "travel ready" and would be coming home "as soon as possible."

Patricia Caunan, OWWA chief, noted that many of the Filipinos working as caregivers in Israel have developed strong emotional ties with their wards and would rather stay.

Cacdac stressed that the government's repatriation program is still on "voluntary mode" primarily because Israel has bomb shelters that have proven to be effective.

But still, the government is persuading Filipinos to return voluntarily and get as much as P150,000 financial aid as well as necessary medical, training and employment assistance, he said.

He also reported that the DMW has also assisted in the repatriation of 58 OFWs who got stranded following the exchange of missile attacks between Iran and Israel.

According to Cacdac, local recruitment agencies are now also on red alert and under orders to assist in the voluntary repatriation of the OFWs they have deployed.

Cacdac said recruitment agencies have also been ordered to halt the deployment of OFWs to Israel and Jordan. Those found violating the order would face sanction.

Manning agencies, meanwhile, have been prohibited from allowing Filipino seafarers to board foreign vessels passing through Yemen and the coast near Iran.