PH asks Syria to facilitate OFW repatriation

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F del Rosario formally asked for the Syrian Government’s full assistance in facilitating the repatriation of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially those in conflict areas like Homs, Daraa, Idlib and Hama.

Del Rosario, who is in Syria, met with Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmad Arnous and other Syrian officials. The Philippines plans to repatriate “200 OFWs within the next two weeks and another 200 in the following weeks,” according to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) press release.

Del Rosario requested the Foreign Ministry’s assistance in further updating the database of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus. This will help determine the exact location and other information of Filipinos deployed throughout Syria’s 13 governorates.

He brought to the Minister’s attention the continuing illegal trafficking of OFWs into Syrian territory, despite the current ban on their deployment, Alert Level 4.

Del Rosario expressed the Philippines’ gratitude to Foreign Minister al-Moallem for ensuring the safety of all Filipino nationals, for facilitating the repatriation of 490 Filipinos since March 2011, and for allowing the widespread information dissemination on the Philippines’ mandatory repatriation program.

He also expressed the Philippines’ hope for a peaceful and orderly end to the current crisis in the country.

Earlier, Secretary del Rosario and the Philippine delegation also met with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ambassadors in Damascus to coordinate efforts in safeguarding the welfare of their nationals across the country.

Upon arrival in Syria on January 1, Del Rosario immediately met with the leaders of the Filipino Community in Syria (FCS) to solidify the campaign for the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos, and to reiterate the call for all OFWs in Syria to leave the country at the soonest possible time.

“We are fully committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of all Filipinos in Syria. It is our objective to undertake the repatriation of our kababayans as quickly as possible,” Secretary del Rosario told the leaders of the Filipino community that met him.

Together with the Philippine delegation and embassy officers and staff, del Rosario thoroughly reviewed the contingency plans, which resulted in a greater commitment of resources that will help in the urgent implementation of the repatriation program.

Photo from DFA website shows Secretary del Rosario (left) shaking hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.