Chartered flights eyed for repatriation of over 200 OFWs in Lebanon

Manila: The government is arranging chartered flights for the repatriation of more than 200 overseas Filipino workers in Beirut, Lebanon, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Wednesday. 'We are trying to provide for chartered flights. We're talking to airline companies so that the chartered flights would be able to accommodate for example, no less than 300 overseas Filipino workers from Beirut,' DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said in a Palace press briefing. This was after the scheduled flights of around 15 OFWs on Sept. 25 were cancelled because of the recent bombings in Beirut. Olalia said around 111 OFWs are staying in four temporary shelters in Beirut and waiting for their repatriation. An additional 110 OFWs are applying for exit permits from the Lebanese government, Olalia said. 'Apart from the documented OFWs, we have undocumented OFWs who need to secure travel documents and once they're given travel documents, we will help them in securing also exit visas or exit permits from the Immig ration of the Lebanese government,' he said. Olalia, however, said the Philippine government is facing several challenges, including securing landing rights for chartered flights. He said land and sea routes are being considered, in case the situation escalates and makes it 'impossible' to take the air route. 'The DMW is also studying the possibility of other routes. Apart from air route, we will be assessing the sea and the land route, should the case or the situation there worsen,' Olalia said. He said the DMW, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and other concerned agencies will adopt a 'whole-of-government assistance" upon the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. He said each repatriated OFW will get PHP150,000 in financial assistance from the DMW and OWWA, as well as psychosocial services. Israel has intensified its airstrikes across the northern border into Lebanon, targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Iran fired ballistic missiles in Israel on Tuesday nig ht, following the deadly attacks on Gaza and Lebanon and the recent killings of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders. Olalia said no Filipinos were hurt since the attacks were launched. 'We have men on the ground. They work around the clock. At 'yung mga staff po natin, dinagdagan na po natin (And we augmented our staff) both in Lebanon at (and) nearby posts to be able to provide safest route, to evacuate and ultimately to facilitate the repatriation of our OFWs both either in Lebanon or in Israel,' he said. Source: Philippines News Agency