The government is exploring ways to evacuate overseas Filipino workers in conflict-hit Lebanon.
In yesterday’s (Oct. 2) Palace briefing, Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the government is looking at relocating OFWs to safer areas by air, land, and sea.
“The original flight that will accommodate 15 overseas Filipino workers sana na makabalik was on September 25 but that did not push through because the flight was cancelled. So we took the liberty of chartering a flight. So mayroon na po tayong kausap,” according to Olalia.
“But should the air route be impossible because pwede pong isarado nila ‘yung airport doon sa Beirut, mayroon na po tayong alternative. Iyong land route natin naka-ready na going to Damascus, pinag-uusapan na po namin ‘yan,” he also said.
The undersecretary said the government is also ready to evacuate OFWs by sea if needed.
“Yes, mayroon na rin po kaming kinakausap na mga maritime vessels. We are not at the liberty to disclose kung sino-sino ‘yun but nandoon na po ‘yung ating options,” he added.
Olalia also said that all Migrant Workers Offices in the Middle East are ready to help facilitate the evacuation and repatriation of OFWs amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
The DMW is “working around the clock” to provide the safest possible route to evacuate the OFWs, not just in Lebanon but also in Israel, he pointed out.IMT
