DOLE forms rapid response team amid Qatar diplomatic crisis

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has formed a rapid response team (RRT) in anticipation of possible repatriation of Filipinos in Qatar.

DOLE Undersecretary Dominador Say told Unang Balita in an interview that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III appointed him as head of the RRT.

Say said Bello met with the team on Wednesday morning.

"This morning there was a meeting with the Rapid Response Team. I was appointed to head. Hihingi tayo ng daily regular updates from all areas, hindi lang Qatar, na mga POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office)," he said.

He added that there is a possibility that the RRT will be sent to Qatar to check the situation of Filipinos there.

Say assured that the government is "on top of the situation."

He also allayed fears of families of Filipinos working and living in Qatar that the situation in the Middle Eastern country was still normal.

"Wala namang giyera eh. Ang Pinoys doon ay kumalma lang. Kalma lang sila and keep monitrong the sitation," he said.

The DOLE on Tuesday suspended the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Qatar.

This was after Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and Maldives severed diplomatic ties with Qatar over allegations that it supports terrorists.

Say said the number of Filipinos working and living in Qatar is between 200,000 and 250,000. —ALG, GMA News