INQUIRER STOCK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – A total of 151 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in war-torn Lebanon are set to return to the country in the coming weeks according to the Department of Migrant Workers on Monday.
“Aside from the 151 braced to come home, we are processing around 235, still within the offices of the Lebanese immigration authorities. And of course, as I said, the situation is fluid, meaning we are continually accepting and helping those who wish to be repatriated,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a press briefing at its main office in Mandaluyong City.
Article continues after this advertisementHe said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives to them are clear, and that is to help and ensure the safety of OFWs in at least four affected areas — Israel, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza, and to bring them home safe.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION She thought her baby’s sweet scent was a blessing; it’s a deadly illness GLOBALNATION US missile deployment to PH important for combat readiness – US general GLOBALNATION House to SolGen: File raps to seize land from ChineseREAD: More OFWs fleeing Israel, Lebanon as tensions rise
Cacdac said the group will be divided by batch and brought home via commercial flights from Oct. 11 to Oct. 28.
Article continues after this advertisementCurrently, he said around 2,000 OFWs in Northern Israel have been evacuated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and they are now on safer grounds.
Article continues after this advertisement“The border between Lebanon and Israel, Northern Israel and the southern tip of Lebanon, and those who are in the southern cities, many of them have moved up north to central Beirut. We have three shelters with around 107 Filipinos in those shelters right now. Three separate shelters all around Beirut, and we will not disclose the nature of the facility nor their location for security reasons,” he said.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: OFWs in Lebanon seek faster repatriation
Cacdac said most of those currently in the shelter are just waiting to be repatriated.
Article continues after this advertisementHe, however, said there are also several Filipinas married to Lebanese nationals with their families, including children, in the shelters.
“And the intent is not for them to be repatriated but just looking for safer ground,” he added.
Cacdac said there is an increasing interest on the part of OFWs to return to the country, especially with the heightened tension and increased bombing in the area, which is still under Alert Level 3 or voluntary repatriation.
The DMW, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have so far repatriated around 430 out of Lebanon since October last year.
Of the 430, he said around 28 are dependents.
In the West Bank, Cacdac said there are around 21 OFWs who are all safe and accounted for.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Meanwhile, he said that despite the situationtusk casino, the DMW’s Migrant Workers Offices in the conflict areas remain open to assist OFWS.
READ NEXT 3 Cabinet members are PH caretakers while Marcos is in Laos �... Runaway OFW caregivers in South Korea arrested in Busan EDITORS' PICK Liam Payne had cocaine in his system when he died, says official ASF vaccination expands to bigger piggeries UPDATES: 2025 elections precampaign stories Heart Evangelista: Woman to woman, I never had a problem with Pia Wurtzbach PVL: Alohi Robins-Hardy set for PH return, joins Farm Fresh Bianca Bustamante joins NEOM McLaren for Valencia Women’s Test MOST READ DILG identifies 38 hotspots ahead of 2025 polls LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine Marcos smiled, walked away when asked about VP Duterte's accusation NBA: Wizards' Corey Kispert agrees to 4-year, $54M deal View comments