MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will temporarily suspend the deployment of Filipino workers to Qatar, fearing food riots and other potential problems amid the diplomatic crisis gripping the energy-rich Gulf nation.

Secretary Silvestre Bello says the ban took effect Tuesday but there is no plan yet to repatriate the more than 200,000 Filipino workers in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab powers severed diplomatic ties Monday with Qatar and moved to isolate the nation, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups and backing Iran.

Saudi Arabia closed its land border with Qatar, through which the tiny Gulf nation and international travel hub imports most of its food, sparking a run on supermarkets. </s> MANILA, June 7 (Reuters) - Filipinos who have job contracts in Qatar will be allowed to go there, the Philippine labour secretary said on Wednesday, scrapping a previously announced ban on the deployment of workers there.

Silvestre Bello said the processing of new applications would remain temporarily suspended as the government awaits "further developments" following the severing of diplomatic ties with Qatar by the Arab world's biggest powers.

Bello banned workers going to Qatar on Tuesday but he told Reuters he had been assured by Philippine labour officials in Qatar that conditions there were "normal" and that there was no reason to be concerned about safety.

More than 2 million people from the Philippines are working in the Middle East as domestic helpers, construction workers, engineers and nurses, with Qatar hosting 250,000 and Saudi Arabia hosting almost a million.

Filipinos working in the Middle East sent home $7.6 billion in remittances in 2016, making the region a major source of foreign exchange inflows, which help drive one of Asia's fastest growing economies. </s> MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine government temporarily suspended the deployment of Filipino workers to Qatar on Tuesday, fearing food riots and other potential problems amid the diplomatic crisis gripping the tiny Gulf nation, the labor secretary said.

Silvestre Bello said there was no plan yet to repatriate the more than 200,000 Filipino workers in Qatar.

“If anything happens and they run out of food and food riots take place, definitely our OFWs will be the first victims,” Bello said, using the acronym for overseas Filipino workers. “We need to adopt preparatory measures to meet the possible exigency.”

Filipino officials and recruitment agencies have been asked to ensure that Filipino workers in Qatar are safe and have adequate food stocks.

The Philippines is a major labor supplier, with about a tenth of more than 100 million Filipinos working abroad because of inadequate jobs and other opportunities at home.

Saudi Arabia and three other Arab powers severed diplomatic ties with Qatar on Monday and moved to isolate it, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups and backing Iran. Qatar has long denied supporting militant groups.

Saudi Arabia closed its land border with Qatar, through which the international travel hub imports most of its food, sparking a run on supermarkets.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte met in April with King Salman in Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos work as nurses, domestic helpers, drivers, waiters and technicians. Duterte’s visit was aimed at boosting Saudi investments in the Philippines and strengthening ties with the Middle East heavyweight.

He also visited Qatar and Bahrain during the trip. The region is home to the largest group of Filipinos working overseas. More than 1 million Filipinos reside and work in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain.

Associated Press writer Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. </s> The Philippines said Tuesday it would not send any more workers to Qatar until the fallout from a regional political crisis became clear.

Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have severed diplomatic relations with Qatar. Saudi Arabia has blocked all land, sea and air routes to Qatar, and the UAE has closed its airports and harbors to Qatari flights and shipping.

The Arab states have accused their neighbor of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region. Qatar says the claims are "unjustified" and "baseless."

The gas-rich state relies heavily on migrant workers to keep its economy ticking over. Thousands have been hired to build stadiums and other facilities for the Qatar 2022 soccer World Cup.

In a statement, the Philippines government said it was concerned about the fate of 140,000 Filipinos workers already in Qatar, particularly given suggestions that the blockade could lead to food shortages.

"We know for a fact Qatar does not produce it own food. If anything happens and they ran out of food and food riots take place definitely our [foreign workers] will be the first victims," said Silvestre Bello, head of the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment, in a statement.

Qatar has a population of just over 2.2 million but most of the people living there are foreign nationals. There are about 650,000 Indians in Qatar, for example.

The small country has used its huge oil and gas wealth to become an economic powerhouse. It's home to one of the region's biggest airlines, Qatar Airways. It has also built up a huge global portfolio of investments.

Qatar has repeatedly faced criticism for alleged support of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group considered a terrorist organization by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Analysts say the unprecedented diplomatic rift is also driven by the belief that Qatar is too closely aligned with Iran.

The Philippine government said the suspension applied to newly-hired and returning Filipino workers.

"Even those who are ready to go we have to temporary suspend for their own protection because we have to assess the situation first before we could allow again the deployment of our migrant workers," Bello said. "This is for their own protection." </s> The Philippines said Tuesday it would not send any more workers to Qatar until the fallout from a regional political crisis became clear.

Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have severed diplomatic relations with Qatar. Saudi Arabia has blocked all land, sea and air routes to Qatar, and the UAE has closed its airports and harbors to Qatari flights and shipping.

The Arab states have accused their neighbor of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region. Qatar says the claims are "unjustified" and "baseless."

Qatar has a population of just over 2.2 million but most of the people living there are foreign nationals.

The gas-rich state relies heavily on migrant workers to keep its economy ticking over. They include engineers, doctors and bankers, as well as construction workers hired to build stadiums for the Qatar 2022 soccer World Cup.

In a statement, the Philippine government said it was concerned about the fate of 140,000 Filipinos workers already in Qatar, particularly given suggestions that the blockade could lead to food shortages.

"We know for a fact Qatar does not produce its own food. If anything happens and they ran out of food and food riots take place definitely our [foreign workers] will be the first victims," said Silvestre Bello, head of the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment, in a statement.

The suspension applies to newly-hired and returning Filipino workers.

"Even those who are ready to go we have to temporary suspend for their own protection because we have to assess the situation first before we could allow again the deployment of our migrant workers," Bello said. "This is for their own protection."

There are also 650,000 Indian nationals in Qatar, making up the biggest expat community. The Indian government so far appears relaxed about their fate.

"There is no challenge that arises for us out of this situation," India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday.

"When it comes to us, we are only concerned that no Indians get caught in the middle of this because they have put in travel restrictions. If any Indian is stopped, we will bring them back here."

Nepali citizens make up another big chunk of the population in Qatar, with over 400,000 living in the Gulf nation.

Ganesh Gurung, a labor and migration expert in Kathmandu, said some Nepali truck drivers have already lost their jobs because of the closure of the Saudi-Qatar border. Many more would lose their jobs if the crisis drags on, he added.

"This would directly impact the Nepali economy as it depends heavily on foreign remittances." said Gurung.

Egyptians in Qatar were confused when news broke Monday that Cairo was breaking off diplomatic ties with Doha. Egypt did not follow Saudi Arabia and the UAE in recalling its citizens back.

"We are prepared to welcome citizens home if such a decision is made," said Nabila Makram, Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs, in an interview with an Egyptian TV channel.

"We are now in a transition phase, and the embassy will become a caretaker and continue with consular services," Makram added. She estimates there are more than 70,000 Egyptians living in Qatar.

The small country has used its huge oil and gas wealth to become an economic powerhouse. It's home to one of the region's biggest airlines, Qatar Airways. It has also built up a huge global portfolio of investments.

Qatar has repeatedly faced criticism for alleged support of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group considered a terrorist organization by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Analysts say the unprecedented diplomatic rift is also driven by the belief that Qatar is too closely aligned with Iran.

Qatar's foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, told CNN on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia's claims were contradictory and "full of false information." </s> “Effective today, the deployment of Filipino workers to Qatar is suspended,” sabi ni Bello.

“There have been wild rumors going around, but our labor attache there said there is no truth to such rumors. There is no food riot, but Filipinos were advised to prepare,” dagdag ni Bello.

“The assessment of Qatar and other Middle Eastern countries by the Department of Foreign Affairs will determine length of deployment ban,” ayon pa kay Bello.

 Sa ngayon, wala pang planong ilikas ang mga Pinoy sa Qatar, bagamat pinayuhan ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) unit ang mga OFWs na mag-imbak ng pagkain, tubig at gamot.

 ” Qatar does not produce its own food,” dagdag ni Bello. </s> The Philippines on Tuesday halted the deployment of workers to Qatar as the gas-rich Gulf state grappled with a diplomatic crisis after its neighbours cut ties with Doha.

Labour chief Silvestre Bello said Manila was taking precautions as it fears that problems like food shortages could affect the more than 200,000 Filipinos in Qatar should the crisis worsen.

Saudi Arabia and several of its allies on Monday severed relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism, in the biggest diplomatic crisis to have hit the Middle East's Gulf region in years.

Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and the Maldives also cut ties with Qatar, which Riyadh accused of supporting groups, including some backed by Iran, "that aim to destabilise the region".

The Gulf states and Egypt said their diplomatic move includes closing transport links with Qatar, which relies on imports from its neighbours.

"We are forseeing a possible problem in Qatar," Bello said at a news conference.

"For example, we know for a fact that Qatar does not produce its own food. If anything happens that they run out of food and food riots will take place, definitely our OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers)... will be the first victims," he said.

"That's why we really need to make preparatory measures to meet a possible exigency."

Bello said there were 141,000 documented Filipino workers in Qatar as of last year, but the total number could surpass 200,000 if those without proper documents are counted.

The ban will also affect individuals whose papers have been approved or are scheduled to depart for Qatar, according to Bello.

President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman Ernesto Abella said the actions by the Gulf states may have "some ripple effects" on Filipino workers.

He said government agencies would extend assistance to those affected.

More than 10 million Filipinos work or stay permanently overseas, part of a global diaspora that sends back billions of dollars annually to help prop up the economy. </s> The Philippines has suspended the deployment of workers to Qatar after several Gulf states severed ties with Doha.

The administration in Manila is concerned that if there are food shortages in Qatar due to the political “siege”, Filipino workers could be the first to suffer.

Government forces have arrested the father of the Maute brothers — leaders of the urban warfare against the military in Marawi City in Mindanao — and four other individuals in Davao City.

The Supreme Court has set the dates for oral arguments on the petition against martial law in Mindanao on June 13-15.

Malacañang Palace officials insist that President Rodrigo Duterte respects Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and his views on the administration’s foreign policy.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spoken to Qatar and neighbouring Arab states in efforts to find a solution to the Gulf crisis. </s> (UPDATED) The DOLE partially lifts the deployment ban on Qatar. The suspension stays for those whose papers have yet to be processed.

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) partially lifted the suspension of deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Qatar on Wednesday, June 7, a day after the ban was imposed.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Bello said DOLE's Crisis Committee decided to lift the deployment suspension for OFWs who are just returning to Qatar and those who already have an overseas employment certificate (OEC) issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). All with OECs, whether returning to Qatar or new hires, will be allowed to depart.

Bello said, however, that OFWs whose papers are still for processing remain covered by the deployment ban.

"The consensus [of the Crisis Committee] was to lift the temporary moratorium or suspension of deployment of OFWs to Qatar particularly doon sa Balik Manggagawa at saka iyong mga meron nang OEC (those part of Balik Manggagawa and those who already have their OEC)," the DOLE chief said.

The Crisis Committee for Qatar is headed by Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say, with Labor Undersecretary Bernard Olalia and officials from the POEA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) as members.

The committee, in consultation with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Qatar, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and other stakeholders, will continue to monitor the situation in Qatar.

POEA Acting Administrator Aristodes Ruaro, meanwhile, clarified that the processing of papers and OECs will continue, but the documents will not be released while the situation in Qatar is still being monitored.

The partial lifting came as DOLE faced criticism over the suspension, which some said was "prematurely" announced. (READ: DOLE urged to lift suspension of OFW deployment to Qatar)

Bello earlier ordered the suspension, saying DOLE wants to protect OFWs from potential problems such as a food shortage in Qatar.

Qatar is currently in a diplomatic row with other Middle Eastern countries.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Egypt had cut ties with Qatar last Monday, June 5, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

Bello on Wednesday said the POLO in Qatar reported the situation there remains normal.

The Qatari government also gave him "101%" assurance that Filipino migrant workers will be protected.

"They guaranteed the safety of our OFWs. There will be no food shortage... They told us, 'Don't worry, everything is fine,'" said Bello.

There are around 245,806 OFWs in Qatar. Filipinos are among the largest groups of foreign workers there. (READ: FAST FACTS: How big is the Filipino community in Qatar?) – Rappler.com
The Philippines temporarily suspends sending workers to Qatar.