Photo from Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit/ Joseph B. Vidal, OSP
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to repatriate as many Filipinos as they can amid the ongoing tension in Lebanon.
“I call on the DFA and DMW to repatriate as many of our kababayans in Lebanon as soon as possible. Dapat may mga nakalatag nang contingency plans ang ating mga ahensya sakaling lumalala ang sitwasyon,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
(Our agencies should have contingency plans in place in case the situation worsens.)
READ: 15 OFWs arriving from Lebanon on October 3 – DMW
“I trust that our government agencies are exhausting all options to ensure the security, safety, and welfare of our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers). They should already be mobilizing and pre-positioning resources in anticipation of heightened tensions,” she added.
The senator also urged all OFWs to coordinate with the embassy as soon as possible, as she likewise assured them that livelihood assistance await them in the Philippines.
“Sa ngayon, ang mahalaga ay ang ligtas na pag-uwi ng mga Pilipino. Conflict may soon escalate. We should do all we can to remove our citizens from harm’s way,” she said.
(Right now, what is important is the safe return of Filipinos.)
According to DMW, 15 OFWs are expected to arrive in the country from Lebanon on October 3.
Based on reports, “multiple explosions were reported in the southern suburbs of Beirut due to a targeted Israeli military strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters on the evening of 27 September 2024.”
The embassy then urged the Filipinos in the area to remain vigilant and avoid the southern suburbs of Beirut and other areas that have been the targets of conflicts.
Based on DFA’s data, approximately 11,000 Filipinos are still in Lebanon, and 1,247 have shown interest in being repatriated.