65 Ilonggos working in Lebanon safe

The provincial government here assured that all 65 Ilonggos currently working in Lebanon are safe. The Public Employment Service Office (PESO), upon the directive of Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., activated the Operation Task Force Bulig Ilonggo in partnership with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, providing 24/7 emergency hotlines to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Iloilo working in Lebanon. 'We have names, and we check on their status, and so far, they are secured,' Defensor said in a press conference on Thursday. Meanwhile, acting PESO manager Cynthia Dario said the 65 accounted OFWs as of Thursday are those reported through municipal PESO managers and barangay PESO coordinators. Of the 65, one is near the warzone and already signified intent to get repatriated, but the employer, who is ill, would not permit the OFW to go home. 'Data coming from the OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) showed we have many undocumented OFWs. When we say undocumented, the y did not renew their membership with OWWA,' Dario said. She said there are more or less 1,400 undocumented and over 400 active Ilonggo OFWs in Lebanon. 'Most of our OFWs at the height of the crisis opted to be silent, and it's their families that are connecting with us,' she said, adding that the PESO could not force them to come out if they did not want to. Dario said the PESO is responsive to their request and willing to extend any assistance should they need it. Nonetheless, she said their emergency lines are open, and they can call anytime. 'We are trying to know the assistance they need from the Iloilo provincial government,' she said. Beirut in Lebanon is currently under Alert Level 3, which means repatriation is available but voluntary, the PESO said. Source: Philippines News agency