Exit visas for 225 OFWs from Syria waived

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said that Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario was able to successfully negotiate for the waiver of exit visa requirements for 225 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) housed in the embassy in Syria.

“Mission accomplished. Upon SFA ADR’s representation, Syrian government has waived all exit visa requirements for all 255 OFWs now sheltered in the embassy to facilitate their immediate return to Manila,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said in a text message from Syria.

“I will be left behind to continue coordinating efforts with my opposite number in the Foreign Ministry to implement what has been discussed  during the meeting between SFA and Syrian Foreign Minister Muallem yesterday here in Damascus,” Seguis added in the text message.

Seguis and Del Rosario left for Syria Monday night to coordinate with the Syrian officials for the immediate repatriation of OFWs amid the increasing violence in the area.