56 Filipinos Back from Syria

Fifty-six Filipinos, mostly OFWs, arrived from Syria on Friday after availing of the mandatory repatriation program of the Philippine government. The Philippines raised a high alert on strife-torn Syria in December, and has been struggling since to convince Filipinos working there to leave the country.

image courtesy of interaksyon.com

On Friday the 56 repatriates were accompanied by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos on flight back to Manila via Qatar Airways.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon said the release of the workers from their respective employers was facilitated by a negotiating team composed of officials from the foreign affairs and labor departments, and the OWWA. More Filipinos are expected to arrive from Syria in the next few days with more registrants to the government's repatriation drive expected to flock to the Philippine Embassy in Damascus.

The OWWA repatriation team provided the repatriates assistance through immigration and customs formalities. The group will be offered temporary shelter at the OWWA Halfway Home and will be assisted with their domestic transportation needs. An OWWA counseling team will be on hand to conduct stress debriefing.

Officials said the OFWs will be briefed on their reintegration options, including options to avail of business entrepreneurship support. Assistance to start micro businesses will also be offered.

Meanwhile, the "Libreng Tawag" (Free Phone Calls) program of OWWA continues to assist relatives of OFWs in Syria to communicate with the spouses, children or relatives. The facility is open at the OWWA-National Capital Region at Pasay City and at all OWWA regional offices throughout the country.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com