President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday assured the government is exhausting all possible means to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Lebanon and Israel amid the increasing tension in the Middle East.
“I wish to reassure the public that the Philippine government is doing everything it can to ensure the safety of over 40,000 Filipino nationals in Lebanon and in Israel and to bring them home so that they have a place that they can feel safe in, so long as they ask to come home,” President Marcos said in his departure statement before departing for Lao PDR to attend the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits.
“I am glad to report that no Filipino has been reported injured in the crisis that we hear about in the news … the wave of attacks against Hezbollah targets in the past few days, and the consequent Iranian reprisal against Israel,” he said.
President Marcos said he is concerned about the safety of Filipinos affected by the increasing tensions in the region.
Philippine embassies in the region have been coordinating with the Filipino community and working on securing exit papers and transportation for those who wish to go home, the President said.
The President also reported that of the 1,500 initial applicants for repatriation from Lebanon, a third of them have already gone home. Another batch, numbering around 500, are still having their papers processed.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will expedite the process and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will be chartering the flights to bring them home, he said.
“The DFA will expedite this and OWWA will be chartering the flights to bring them home,” the President said.
The DMW and OWWA will be bringing home this month at least 162 OFWs from Israel, with the two agencies providing assistance to Filipinos returning to the Philippines, he added.
“Sa ating mga kababayan sa Lebanon at Israel, ang ating pamahalaan ay nakahanda sa pagtugon ng inyong pangangailangan. We hope that you will avail yourselves of our repatriation program while flights are available,” President Marcos said.
The President advised the Filipinos in Lebanon and Israel to heed the advisories of the Philippine Embassy and the Lebanese and Israeli governments.
Interest is growing among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel and Lebanon to return home to the Philippines amid the escalating violence in the region, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
“I expect the Secretaries of the DFA and the DMW and the Administrator of OWWA to report to me with updates daily,” the President said. (PCO)
