August 27 ------ The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has guaranteed a safe passage for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the conflict in Lebanon. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said they have already prepared evacuation points for OFWs wanting to leave the conflict area. “I cannot disclose the details of our evacuation, repatriation plans but rest assured there are evacuation points in country and out of the country and mayroong shelter na nakahanda, and we have been communicating,” Cacdac said in a news forum in Quezon City.
Cacdac said they “have been ready since last year,” following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prepare for any possible problem that may occur in the growing disputes in the Middle East. “Ang ating Pangulo ay may direktiba na paghandaan ang anumang contingency sa bahagi na iyan sa Middle East – whether it’s Israel or Lebanon or the West Bank. Handa tayo diyan and together with the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) Ambassador (Raymond) Balatbat in Beirut and our Labor Attaché Alex Padaen were ready with any contingency sa Lebanon,” he said.
Cacdac added there are no Filipinos left in the border areas in Northern Israel and Southern Lebanon where the conflict is happening. “However, may southern cities…kasi border towns, southern cities, gitna Beirut – iyong 11,300 na Filipinos karamihan nandoon sa Beirut sa gitna. May southern cities in between the border towns and the central part Beirut nandodoon mga less than a hundred and we are now in the process of evacuating them and again may shelters tayo,” he explained.
Cacdac said there are currently 45 Filipinos undergoing repatriation. “It’s taking a bit of time with the Immigration authorities sa Lebanon but we are patient in a sense that they are all safe and just ready to be flown home. Bukas pa naman ang Beirut International at nagdadasal tayo na hindi lalala ang sitwasyon,” he said.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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