DMW plans to charter flights for repatriation of Filipinos from Lebanon

Rescuers stand on the rubble of a builiding destroyed in an Israeli air strike in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Beirut’s southern suburbs on September 27, 2024.  Israel carried out air strikes on the south of Lebanon’s capital Beirut on September 27 that it said targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters, moments after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep fighting the militant group. (Photo by AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The government is exploring the option of chartering a flight to repatriate Filipinos affected by the rising tensions in Lebanon, Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said on Wednesday.

In a press briefing, Olalia said that 15 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) were supposed to return to the Philippines last month, but recent explosions disrupted the plan.

READ: OFWs in Lebanon seek faster repatriation

“The supposed September 25 flight, which will facilitate the repatriation of 15 of our OFWs, did not push through because the flights were canceled due to the conflict, and as a consequence, we’re trying to provide for chartered flight,” said Olalia.

Each chartered flight, costing over P25 million, can accommodate 300 passengers. However, the government has yet to secure landing rights for the flight.

“The other challenge is the exit permits of some of our workers; apart from documented OFWs, we have undocumented OFWs who need to secure travel documents,” he also said.

READ: Many OFWs willing to take chances, refuse to leave Lebanon

Aside from that, Olalia mentioned the government is also considering sea and land routes for bringing the Filipinos back home if ever the situation in the foreign country worsens.

There are approximately 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon, with 111 currently in shelters and 63 in a hotel, all in the southern part of the country.

Olalia reiterated that the government is no longer allowing deployment of new and returning OFWs in Lebanon since it was placed under alert level 3.