DFA chief goes to Syria to help rescue OFWs

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario left for Syria Monday to check on the condition of Filipinos affected by the deteriorating security situation in that country and to coordinate with top Syrian Government officials to secure their immediate repatriation.

“We were given a clear mandate by the President to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos in Syria. We want to facilitate the immediate repatriation of as many Filipinos as possible,” del Rosario said.

Del Rosario is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis.

In April and December 2011, del Rosario also went to Damascus to personally seek the assistance of the Syrian Government in looking after Filipinos in that country.

Seguis likewise embarked on a similar mission to Syria in July. His efforts resulted in the granting of exit visas and the waiver of penalties and fees for 140 Filipinos who were brought home last July 30 to August 1. There are presently over 1,000 Filipinos who are undergoing repatriation procedures.

A Rapid Response Team (RRT), composed of officers and personnel from the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment, and Interior and Local Government, is in Syria to extract Filipinos from conflict areas and help speed-up the repatriation efforts, which is being spearheaded by the Philippine Embassy in Damascus.

Nearly 300 Filipinos are being housed in the Embassy’s halfway house ready to be repatriated and are expected to arrive in the coming days.

A total of 26 Filipinos are also scheduled to arrive Tuesday and Wednesday, which will bring the total number of repatriates to 2,124. –(philstar.com)