KUALA LUMPUR - As the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippine government said the bloc is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and their impact on Southeast Asian workers in the region.

According to the Philippine News Agency, Department of Social Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said during a briefing at the 2026 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community meetings that the Philippines is ready to extend help where needed.

“The ASCC, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, is also ensuring that needed assistance would be extended not only to Filipinos but also to the nationals of our ASEAN family.

“I believe that discussion on this will continue as we hold the council meeting and the bilateral meetings that the ASCC will also be hosting,” she said.

Several Middle Eastern countries, home to more than one million Filipino and Southeast Asian workers, are facing heightened tensions following Iran’s retaliation after joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Saturday.