PAL ready to help repatriate Filipinos in Syria

MANILA, Philippines–Philippine Airlines (PAL) said Thursday it is ready and willing to help in the repatriation of Filipinos trapped in strife-torn Syria.

PAL President and COO Jaime J. Bautista said PAL is ready to coordinate with the Philippine government to map out the repatriation plan aimed at ensuring the safe transport of Filipinos from so-called “danger zones” in Syria.

“As the country’s national flag carrier, PAL has a sworn duty to assist in times of crises for the sake of our suffering ‘kababayans’”, Bautista said.

He said that as before, PAL is just waiting for advice from officials of concerned government units like the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment for coordination.

Among the critical issues to be agreed on include the pick-up point where PAL will fetch Filipino evacuees; the aircraft to be used; flight crew; processing of flight and landing permits; and ground handling arrangements.

A number of times in its 70-year history, PAL has been called upon to operate emergency missions to evacuate Filipinos in conflict-stricken territories.

The latest repatriation effort made by PAL was in March this year when the flag carrier picked up hundreds of Filipinos in Crete, Greece, after they fled the civil war in Libya.