MANILA, Philippines – The biggest batch of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are set to arrive from Syria as the government continues to step up repatriation efforts amid the increasing violence in the conflict-stricken country.
In an interview with reporters, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez said 263 OFWs are expected to arrive Tuesday morning via a Jordan Aviation flight chartered by the Switzerland-based International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to his press statement Monday, Vice President Jejomar Binay said he would be welcoming the repatriates who would be arriving on board Jordan Aviation flight 4371 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 1 at around 7:30 a.m.
In a separate statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said five more OFWs were due to arrive in Manila Tuesday on board Emirates flight EK 332.
The latest batches would bring to more than 2,400 the total number of repatriates from the strife-torn country.
Last week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario went to Syria to facilitate the immediate repatriation of OFWs, and was able to successfully negotiate for the waiver of the exit visa requirements for the OFWs housed in the embassy there.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered that the OFWs at the shelter be allowed to leave “immediately and without preconditions.”
Meanwhile, the DFA continued to urge Filipinos in Syria to take advantage of the assistance being extended by the Syrian government and apply for immediate repatriation.
It said families of Filipinos in Syria may provide the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (Oumwa) with latest information regarding their next-of-kin’s present location and their contact details in Syria by calling (02) 834-4996 or (02) 834-3333.
It added that Filipinos in Syria may also contact the Embassy for assistance.
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