Manila — In a decisive response to the escalating crisis in the Middle East, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed all relevant Philippine government agencies to mobilize resources for the rapid and safe repatriation of Filipinos in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos, who is currently attending the ASEAN Summit in Laos, orchestrated a teleconference meeting with key officials, including Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año. During the meeting, Marcos emphasized the urgency of the situation, instructing the evacuation of Filipinos “by whatever means—by air, or by sea.”
Marcos outlined the logistical preparations required, stating, “And, just make all the preparations so that all our assets are nearby. If we need a ship, there should be one near Beirut so that once the Embassy gives us the clearance and they say our people can go, we can immediately repatriate them so that they no longer have to wait in danger areas.” He stressed the need for continual monitoring and swift action, given the evolving nature of the crisis.
Secretary Teodoro reported that more Filipinos would begin to be repatriated as soon as necessary exit clearances are obtained. Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Raymond Balatbat confirmed that all possible measures are being taken to expedite these clearances to facilitate the repatriation process.
The urgency of these efforts follows Israeli warplanes’ overnight air raids on the southern suburbs of Beirut on October 6. Despite the focus of airstrikes being in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, there have been no reported injuries or casualties among Filipinos as of October 7.
In response to the heightened tensions, the alert level in Lebanon was raised from Level 2 to Level 3 in October 2023, prompting the government to initiate repatriation for Filipino nationals. The Philippine Embassy in Beirut has been actively mobilizing resources in anticipation of a potential widespread conflict. As of October 8, the embassy had received 1,721 applications for repatriation, successfully repatriating 511 individuals, with 171 more prepared for imminent departure.
Financial and reintegration assistance has been provided to returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) AKSYON Fund and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Emergency Repatriation Fund, along with psychosocial support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and medical assistance from the Department of Health (DOH). Additionally, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) distributed training vouchers to aid in the professional reintegration of the repatriated OFWs.