MANILA, Philippines - A total of 23 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Syria will arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on September 30.
The said OFWs availed of the Mandatory Repatriation Program through Lebanon, with the assistance and support of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. The International Organization for Migration in Damascus, Syria shouldered their tickets.
The repatriates underwent departure briefing and medical check-up before heading back to Manila. They will travel by land first from Damascus to Beirut before boarding a plane.
The Philippine Embassy in Damascus is coordinating with the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates for the issuance of exit visas for OFWs currently sheltered at the Halfway Quarters, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
This brings the number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria to 5,496.
With the MRP still in place, the Philippine Embassy is inviting the next-of-kin of Filipino workers who are still in Syria to get in touch with the Embassy a the following contact details: 00963-11-6132626, 00963-949155557, 00963-934957926, email: pe.damascus@gmail.com and to provide information of their family member’s whereabouts so that immediate assistance can be extended to them, the DFA said.