Pinoys from Lebanon set Sept. 16 reunion

Filipino migrant workers from Lebanon, especially those who were repatriated after the war broke out in 2006, will hold a gathering at the Asilo de San Vicente de Paul along United Nations Avenue, Manila, on September 16, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sister Amelia Torres of the Daughters of Charity, directress of the Afro-Asian Migration Center in Lebanon, said the “reunion" intends to gather feedback and updates on the situation of over 6,000 Filipino workers repatriated from Lebanon. The Catholic nun noted that many of those repatriated suffer all forms of distress. “Many of the workers were not paid their salaries and some were victims of various forms of mistreatment, including sexual abuses," she said. “Through the gathering we would know how those repatriated have been coping from distress and whether the government has been able to deliver on its promise to help the workers," she said. Sister Torres noted that the upcoming gathering of ex-Lebanon Filipino migrant workers is already the third. The first happened in 2001 and the second in 2004. The previous gatherings focused on sharing of experiences and plans of organizing the group into a formal organization. “The 2007 reunion will be a venue of checking what happened to the thousands of those who fled from war-torn Lebanon, especially to check if the government has fulfilled its promise," Torres said. In response to massive evacuation of Filipinos from Lebanon that began in July 2006, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) organized a special unit to help especially those who were not able to claim their wages due to the emergency. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) also promised to redeploy some of those who were repatriated. Sister Torres said she and her group in Manila would try to reach out to all those repatriated. But because of financial constraints, they would try to get at the very least, representations from each region in the country. For inquiries about the activity, contact Sister Amelia Torres, DC, through landline 523-52-64 or mobile phone 09197938255. - GMANews.TV