Manila, March 18 -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is ramping up its emergency response operations to better cater to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the Middle East crisis, while assuring that funds remain sufficient to sustain repatriation and welfare support efforts.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, OWWA Chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the agency is in the process of hiring more people to strengthen its hotline operations as well as its Repatriation and Assistance Division, after receiving over 500 applicants, with some former OFWs.

She said OWWA receives hundreds of requests for assistance from the OFWs and their families.

"Pinapa-urgent ko ang pag-hire kasi ang average calls natin pati sa request ...