Philippines lowers alert level in Libya

Libyan militia members man a checkpoint in the capital Tripoli on December 6, 2011. Libya's government gave its firm support to a two-week deadline for militias that led the uprising which toppled Moamer Kadhafi to quit Tripoli, backing up a threat from the capital's council to lock down the city if they fail to do so. AFP/MAHMUD TURKIA

MANILA, Philippines—Overseas Filipino Workers still in Libya can now go back to the Philippines for the Christmas holidays and return to Libya again to work, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the DFA said President Benigno Aquino III has approved its recommendation to lower the alert level in Libya from alert level 4 (evacuation/mandatory repatriation) to alert level 2 (restriction phase), to reflect the current situation in the country.

“This lowering of the alert level means the redeployment of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Libya, as well as allowing Filipinos who chose to stay behind to return to the country and allow them to return to Libya,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said.

However, the lowering of the alert level will not cover the deployment to Libya of newly-hired OFWs.

In a letter to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Secretary del Rosario has requested the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board to immediately issue a resolution to allow the gradual redeployment of returning Filipino workers, starting with those working in the medical and oil sectors, subject to proof of existing employment, such as return to work letter from their employers and appropriate visas, as determined by the POEA.

“In the same vein and in view of the Christmas season, the Department further requests the POEA to allow those Filipino workers who had previously chosen to remain in Libya and who now wish to spend their Christmas break in the Philippines to return to Libya after their vacation,” the letter added.

The DFA raised alert level 4 in March this year, and asked Filipinos in the country to leave the country due to the politico-security situation in the country.