New york: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will raise the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and call for peace during his engagements at the United Nations (UN) in New York from March 9 to 10, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a press briefing, DFA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Angelica Escalona said Marcos will use the multilateral platform to make an appeal for restraint and the protection of citizens amid the escalating tensions in the region. Escalona emphasized that the UN is the most appropriate venue for the President to call for peace in the Middle East and for the safety of all civilians, especially Filipinos.

Escalona stated that Marcos would express the Philippines' stance to respect international law, including the UN charter and humanitarian law, as well as to return to negotiations to achieve peace. The ongoing crisis has caused oil prices to surge, with Iran continuing to launch strikes across the Middle East as part of its retaliatory attacks against the United States and Israel.

The Philippine government has prepared contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the Middle East crisis on the country. Around 1,824 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by escalating tensions in the Gulf region have received on-site assistance from the Philippine government. As of March 4, some 1,189 OFWs from the affected countries have expressed intent to be repatriated.