President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure the safety of overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) in Lebanon.
In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said they are now closely coordinating with OWWA and DFA to reach out to OFWs and their families affected by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.
“The main responsibility and task, of course, of the Department of Migrant Workers is to ensure the safety of all Filipino workers in Lebanon per instruction and guidance by no less than our President,” Olalia said in a briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps.
“And in line with this responsibility, the DMW and the OWWA, as attached agencies, continue to coordinate with DFA in ensuring the safety of all workers, Filipinos in Lebanon,” he added.
Olalia said the OFWs in Lebanon were already advised of the contingencies in case the situation escalates. The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Beirut remains active, while its office in the Middle East is on standby and ready to provide augmentation should the need arises, he added.
“We have one shelter in the MWO of Beirut. And in relation to that one shelter, our labor attaché secured three additional shelters in case Filipinos there would be willing to signify for the voluntary repatriation,” Olalia said.
There are currently 101 Filipino workers in the shelters ready to be repatriated. However, repatriation efforts are on hold because of flight disruptions in Lebanon.The Sept. 25 flight, expected to accommodate 15 OFWs, was cancelled, according to Olalia.
The government is considering other routes for Filipinos who are still awaiting repatriation.
Aside from chartered flights, Olalia said they are considering other routes, including sea and land travel.
They have already reached out to airline companies for chartered flights, but the government has yet to secure landing rights in coordination with the Lebanese authorities. Olalia said they also considered evacuation by sea and has reached out to maritime companies for assistance.
For Filipinos willing to repatriate but do not have the proper documentations, Olalia assured the DMW will assist them. He added that they are working with the immigration authorities of Lebanon for the processing of exit permits. | PND
