PH reviews raising Lebanon alert level to 4, affecting OFW repatriation

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is currently reviewing whether or not to raise the alert level in Lebanon from 3 to 4, which makes the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) mandatory, according to Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

In a press briefing on Thursday, he noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has the authority to change the alert level.

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

“Under the law, it is the DFA that sets the alert level,” he said.

However, there is no specific time frame for when the status might be raised.

“It’s hard to tell for our part because the DFA conducts the review, so we will just await the action,” said Cacdac in a mix of Filipino and English.

If the DFA raises the alert level to 4, mandatory repatriation of OFWs in Lebanon will be enforced. This level is only declared in cases of severe external threats.

While the change in status is still under review, Cacdac assured the public that the government “stands ready” to bring back Filipinos to the country.

READ: Marcos: Get Filipinos out of Lebanon by all means

On Wednesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered all government agencies to “mobilize all resources” to ensure that all Filipinos in Lebanon are safe.

He made the order during an urgent online meeting with his Cabinet members after the opening ceremony of the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summits and related summits in Laos.

Cacdac, in the briefing, was asked why Marcos decided to conduct an urgent meeting regarding the status of Filipinos in the Middle Eastern country.

He only said it is because of the “political and security side.”

“I will have to leave it to our colleagues in the DND (Department of National Defense) and the DFA. But rest assured, the main objective really is to bring our OFWs safely and with the proper government support and protection,” he said.