DOLE seeks DFA advice on Libya OFW deployment ban

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) may implement a deployment ban on Filipino workers going to Libya once it receives a formal advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

This was the statement of DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday as violence escalates in Tripoli, Libya’s capital.

According to Bello, he has yet to receive an official advice from the DFA that the situation is now at alert level 3 which is considered a “voluntary repatriation” phase.

“Hinihintay namin ang official advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs kung anong alert level talaga, kung alert level 2 o alert level 3 na” Bello told DZMM. 

“Kasi napakinggan ko minsan yung consul general natin doon na si Elmer Cato na tinataas daw nila ang alert level to 3, pero wala pa kaming official advice from the department,” he added.

Once DOLE receives the official advice from the DFA, Bello said DOLE will then issue a board resolution banning the deployment of overseas workers to Libya.

“Kapag meron na talagang DFA advice na itataas na ang alert level 2 to alert level 3, then automatic our board will come up with a resolution banning the deployment of overseas workers to Libya,” he said.

On Monday, DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. declared several districts in Libya under alert level 3 amid the escalating violence in the country.

But Locsin clarified that the alert level was not for the entire country, but only for Tripoli, and its “adjacent districts plus a 100-kilometer radius.”  /muf

READ: DFA raises alert level 3 in Tripoli, several districts in Libya