Gov’t cancels OFW repatriation over Lebanon security risks – DMW

Metro Manila, Philippines – The government has canceled the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Lebanon because of the worsening conflict with Israel in the south, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has raised Alert Level 3 or voluntary repatriation of Filipinos amid clashes between the militant group Hezbollah and Israel.

The DMW said 111 Filipinos in Lebanon are awaiting repatriation.

“The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Beirut reported recent bombings over the weekend in Dahieh, near the MWO, wherein 63 OFWs are staying,” the DMW said.

“All OFWs are safe from the recent attacks and were immediately transferred to a hotel in Beit Mery, Lebanon for temporary shelter at much safer grounds,” it said.

Sixteen Filipinos, meanwhile, are staying in the government-rented facility in Beit Mery.

Fifteen OFWs were supposed to return to the Philippines on Sept. 25. They were rescheduled for Oct. 11 and 22.

The DMW said around 1,100 more Filipinos have signified to leave the Middle Eastern country.

The government is also planning to bring home Filipinos through a chartered flight.

“Hopefully, ‘pag nabigyan tayo ng landing rights, we will land our chartered flight there and sana ‘yung seating capacity niya – we have an available 111 ready to be repatriated ay maisama na natin pauwi,” DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said in a press briefing.

[Translation: Hopefully, when we have been given landing rights, we will land our chartered flight there and we hope that it can accommodate all 111 ready-to-be-repatriated OFWs.]

If a chartered flight would be prohibited or if the airport would be closed, other options are considered.

“‘Yung land route natin naka-ready na, going to Damascus. Pinag-uusapan na namin ‘yan,” Olalia said.

[Translation: The land route going to Damascus is already ready. We’re discussing that.]

“‘Yung yate, yes. Meron na kaming kinakausap na mga maritime vessels,” he went on.

[Translation: Yachts, yes. We have been coordinating with maritime vessel owners.]

Olalia said the repatriation allows the Lebanese husband, wife, or children of an OFW.

The government has so far sent home 430 OFWs and 28 dependents since October last year.

They received financial assistance of ₱75,000 from the DMW and another ₱75,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, among other aid.