ESTANCIA, Iloilo – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today announced that she would be leaving for Kuwait tomorrow (February 2, Sunday) to personally look after the welfare of Middle East-based overseas Filipinos workers (OFW) in the wake of growing tensions between the United States and Iraq.

"I want to make sure of the safety of our nationals in case war breaks out in Iraq," the President said in her keynote address during the inspection and inauguration of the 32-megawatt power barge at the Estancia port here.

She assured the families and friends of OFWs that the government has been closely monitoring the conditions of some 1.4 million Filipino workers in the Persian Gulf.

"We are in close and continued coordination with all relevant agencies, host governments and employers’ groups in all the countries in the Persian Gulf to ensure the safety and welfare of the OFWs there," she said.