Repatriation mandatory for OFWs in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, says Bello

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday said repatriation of Filipinos in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon is now mandatory after the highest security alert level was raised over these Middle Eastern countries due to conflict with the United States.

In a press briefing, Bello confirmed that Alert Level 4 has been raised over Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Alert Level 4 means “there is large-scale internal conflict or full-blown external attack” that requires mandatory repatriation.

Bello said senior labor officials will fly out to several countries in the Middle East including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates to aid Filipinos there for possible repatriation.

The Rapid Response Team is composed of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration administrator Bernard Olalia, Overseas Workers Welfare administrator Hans Cacdac, and Labor Undersecretary Claro Arellano.

Olalia will be sent to Lebanon, Cacdac will go to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while Arellano will fly to the United Arab Emirates.

For his part, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Filipinos there will be evacuated first to a safer place like Qatar in preparation for repatriation.

“Hindi na muna [repatriation agad]. Ang problema mo doon pag nagbabarilan na doon, along the way nabaril ka o na-bomba ka. Mas lalong delikado,” Panelo told reporters.

“Isi-secure muna natin sila,” he added.

The labor secretary said there are over 2.1 million Filipinos in the Middle East.

“This could double because of the presence of undocumented OFWs,” he added. “We have to locate ‘yung mga undocumented.”

Bello also said they will utilize the P100 million repatriation budget from 2019 for Filipinos in the Middle East to ensure that they will have no problems with food and medicines.

Cacdac added that the Department of Labor and Employment has an additional P500 million standby fund for crisis and emergency situations.

Bello added that they are fast-tracking their negotiations for alternative employment opportunities in China, Russia, Canada, Germany, and Japan for the Filipinos who will be repatriated.

Repatriated OFWs will also receive livelihood assistance as well as training under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The labor chief also said they have no information yet about some 600 Filipinos near the US bases in Iraq that were attacked by Iran on Wednesday morning. —KG/LDF, GMA News