Heavy flooding seen on several roads in Dubai
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00:00 The latest episode of Extreme Weather Gone Rogue was in full display in the desert country
00:04 of the United Arab Emirates, where rainfall the country receives in a year fell in 24
00:10 hours to turn streets and roads into rivers and ponds and yield a death toll of 18, three
00:16 of whom, sadly, were migrant Filipino workers.
00:19 Hence, the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Migrant Workers have joined hands to assist
00:23 OFWs with their concerns that are putting in place repatriation and assistance measures
00:28 should war erupt between Israel and Iran any time.
00:32 Our Meryl Esmores has the full report.
00:40 Several roads in Dubai in the UAE have turned into rivers and ponds due to severe flooding.
00:45 Vehicular travel in the city has been difficult.
00:48 Residents are also just finding their own ways to move around.
00:51 For this subway, it has also been temporarily closed after being submerged in water.
00:57 In an online post tonight, Department of Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Kakdak confirmed
01:02 the death of three OFWs in the UAE flooding.
01:06 Two of them died due to suffocation and the other one passed as a result of a vehicular
01:11 accident.
01:12 The DMW assured to provide utmost support and assistance to their families.
01:16 Earlier, Kakdak also said, "There are Filipinos needing food and water supplies and relief
01:23 goods.
01:24 So, there are at least two places where the distribution of relief goods is starting,
01:29 Al Ain and Dubai.
01:32 And in Oman, the hardest hit areas, there are no OFWs.
01:38 That's the report I got.
01:40 But I instructed our labor attache to look further."
01:44 For his part, DFA USEC Eduardo de Vega also had these reminders for Filipinos in the UAE
01:50 while assuring government's close monitoring of the situation.
01:53 "There is climate change, we know.
01:54 Even in the Philippines.
01:55 But you Filipinos in Dubai, maybe the locals are not used to the flood or the flood, but
01:56 you are used to it.
01:57 So, you know how to take care of yourselves.
01:58 If there is a need, the people here, if they are worried, there is a hotline, OWA 1348,
01:59 to tell if a Filipino is missing.
02:00 So far, we still don't know if a Filipino is missing."
02:16 Both USEC de Vega and OIC Kakdak were interviewed by the media after their appearance in the
02:22 hearing of the House Committee on Overseas Workers on the status quo of OFWs in the Middle
02:27 East amidst the tension between Israel and Iran.
02:31 The DFA and DMW assured government has a contingency plan in place should the situation worsen
02:37 and match to the satisfaction of the Congressional Panel.
02:40 "Our primary focus is on ensuring the safety and protection of our OFWs who may be affected
02:45 by any potential conflict or escalation of the conflict.
02:49 It is imperative that we emphasize the need to prepare and implement a comprehensive crisis
02:53 plan to safeguard their well-being and ensure their prompt repatriation and reintegration
02:59 if necessary."
03:00 In times of calamity or chaos, the DMW assures it will always come to the aid of affected
03:06 OFWs.
03:07 Melales Moras from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.