PH cuts deal with Syria; 140 OFWs to come home

Undersecretary Rafael Seguis. AFP file photo

MANILA, Philippines – In its latest efforts to repatriate Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from strife-torn Syria, the Philippine government gained success in negotiating with top Syrian officials to bring back home 140 OFWs, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced in a statement Sunday.

“This is the largest batch of OFWs coming home from Syria since the unrest started in March 2011,” the statement said.

Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis left for Syria on July 22 to request the government there to simplify exit requirements for Filipino workers trying to escape the escalating violence in the country and facilitate their repatriation to the Philippines.

Seguis and six members of the government’s Rapid Response Team—composed of officers from the DFA, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of the Interior and Local Government—were deployed to Syria on orders of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to assist the Philippine Embassy in Damascus in its repatriation efforts.

The statement noted that the Syrian government agreed to waive the exit visa fees, penalties, and requirements for the 140 OFWs, allowing the country to save over $100,000.

It said that the Syrian government also assured Seguis it would provide the necessary assistance for the repatriation of 1,404 more OFWs who had expressed their intention to leave Syria.

“It likewise agreed to facilitate the repatriation of other Filipinos who will seek the assistance of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus in the coming days,” it said.

Nineteen OFWs arrived Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on board Etihad Airways flight EY 424 at 3:25 p.m. Two more OFWs were expected to arrive Sunday at 10:10 p.m. on board Emirates flight EK 334.

Three batches were expected to arrive from July 30 to August 1. As many as 82 OFWs were expected to arrive on July 30 on board Emirates Airways flight EK 346 at 2:55 p.m., Etihad Airways flight EY 424 at 3:25 p.m., and Emirates Airways flight EK 334 at 10:10 p.m. while 27 OFWs were expected to arrive on July 31 on board Emirates Airways flight EK 334 at 10:10 p.m. Ten OFWs were expected to arrive on August 1 on board Emirates Airways flight EK 334 at 10:10 p.m.

“The repatriates will be assisted by embassy personnel during their repatriation and would be escorted by members of the Philippine Government’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) from the Embassy to the Damascus International Airport,” the statement said.

It noted that the latest batch would bring the total number of repatriates from Syria to 1, 993.

Syria has been under the DFA’s crisis alert level 4, or mandatory evacuation of OFWs, since late last year.