ALERT LEVEL 3 FOR PINOYS IN SYRIA / EVACUATION TEAM HEADS 4 SYRIA
MANILA, AUGUST 20, 2011 (MANILA TIMES) Written by : BERNICE CAMILLE V. BAUZON REPORTER - Syrian Kurds hold a Syrian flag as they gather outside the United Nations office in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil on Monday. AFP PHOTO
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday raised over the whole of Syria alert level 3, activating the Philippine government's voluntary repatriation program for Filipinos there.
"In view of the escalating violence in Syria, the (DFA) will be raising alert level 3 for the entire country of Syria, effective today [Tuesday]," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said.
Under alert level 3, all Filipinos working and residing in Syria are enjoined to leave the tension-gripped country and the Philippine government will provide for the repatriation cost.
"I have directed our Philippine embassy in Damascus to intensify its efforts to reach out to Filipinos and convince them that now is the time to consider leaving Syria," del Rosario said.
Earlier, he urged the Syrian government to stop the violence in the oil-rich country and to ensure the safety of its people and all foreigners.
Violence in Syria further escalated on Sunday after 19 people were killed when forces of President Bashar al-Assad launched an attack against the main Mediterranean port city of Latakia.
In the five months of bloodshed between government forces and pro-democracy groups, some 2,000 people have been killed, reports said.
There are about 17,000 Filipinos living in Syria, 110 of them are in Daraa, one of the most badly affected by the ensuing violence.
Revolt against the autocratic rule of al-Assad started March 18.
The resistance against his ruling came right after similar protests in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. with report from AFP
Evacuation team heads for Syria By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) Updated August 19, 2011 12:00 AM
An augmentation team from the Department of Foreign Affairs is now in Syria to assist in the repatriation effort of Filipinos caught in the political strife in the country, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said yesterday.
Hernandez said the team, headed by Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos, left late Wednesday aboard Qatar Airways shortly after the DFA raised the crisis alert in Syria to Level 3.
"Undersecretary Conejos is there to assess the security situation further and help in the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)," Hernandez said.
Hernandez said the increase in alert level came in view of the continuing political tension in Syria and taking into account the safety of Filipinos there.
He said the alert level is just a precautionary measure of the DFA to raise the possibility of immediately repatriating the Filipinos trapped in the civil strife in Syria.
Hernandez said at least 40 Filipinos have expressed interest to be repatriated. There are about 17,000 Filipinos in Syria.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), on the other hand, said four Filipino workers in Syria are set to return home soon.
Hernandez added not all Filipino workers want to be repatriated because they are still involved in labor disputes with their employers in Syria.
This developed as the country's flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced they are ready to deploy planes to help in the repatriation plans of the government.
"As the country's national flag carrier, PAL has a sworn duty to assist in times of crises for the sake of our kababayans (compatriots)," PAL president Jaime Bautista said.
Hernandez said the DFA is considering Damascus and Aleppo as pickup points for repatriation for Filipinos in Syria.
In Manila, the DFA's Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs activated hotline numbers for families of Filipinos based in Syria, at 834-3245 and 834-3240.
Lifting the travel ban
The DFA advised Wednesday against travel to Syria citing the continuing political tensions in the country.
On Tuesday, the DFA raised the crisis alert to Level 3, which officials stressed was a precautionary measure and an advice for Filipinos in Syria to get ready for possible evacuation.
Under crisis alert Level 3, voluntary repatriation at government's expense will be offered to Filipinos who wish to leave Syria in light of the escalating tensions.
A deployment ban in Syria was immediately put in place after the DOLE made the announcement.
At the same time, the government is considering to lift the deployment ban on Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sources revealed President Aquino is set to sign the order lifting the deployment ban to the two countries.
"The lifting of the ban was already agreed upon and is just awaiting the President's approval," an official revealed.
The official, however, stressed that only those already employed in US military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq are covered by the lifting of the ban, not those still seeking employment in the two countries.
The possible lifting of the deployment ban to Afghanistan and Iraq came in the wake of the order of the US military to repatriate the Filipinos working in the bases in Kandahar.
The US military said more than 5,000 Filipinos employed in the military bases in Afghanistan have been ordered repatriated.
In a memorandum, the US military directed all foreign contractors employing Filipinos to submit not later than Sept. 9 a comprehensive plan for the scheduled repatriation of the Filipino workers before yearend.
Col. Brian Alvin, of the US Central Command said the plan must contain the exit strategy, including the possible impact of the repatriation to the current US contracts as well as the termination date and the scheduled flights of the Filipino workers.
The contractors were ordered to ensure all Filipino workers depart the Kandahar Air Field (KAF) in Afghanistan and to close the compounds of the bases if necessary.
Alvin said the directive was in compliance with the Philippine government's policy of prohibiting the employment of Filipinos in Afghanistan.
"We understand that there are appeals requesting the Philippine government for an extension of the (OFWs) stay. However, measures must be taken to ensure we are prepared to comply with current policies and laws," Alvin said.
Alvin also ordered the contractors to stop the issuance of badges to Filipino workers effective November 2011 in preparation for their eventual repatriation.
A group of Filipino workers in Afghanistan called on the Philippine government to lift the deployment ban before the end of the month to prevent their repatriation and possible displacement.
Filipino in Afghanistan (FIA) official Carlo Echano said foreign contractors would start hiring for their replacements if the Philippine government fails to lift the ban before the end of the month.
More to lose
Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon also warned that more than 100,000 Filipino seafarers in Europe are in danger of losing their jobs.
He said the International Maritime Organization (IOM), upon the request of European nations, has put Filipino seamen on a "watchlist" of foreign workers not complying with its employment standards.
"The time for us to act is fast approaching. We have an Aug. 31 deadline," he said.Actually, Biazon said there are more than 300,000 Filipino seafarers all over the world.
"But the number immediately affected in Europe is more than 100,000," he added.Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who attended a House budget hearing where Biazon raised his concerns, said he was aware of the problem.
"The Europeans want us to have a single competent authority to regulate and supervise our seafarers. As of now, the agencies involved in supervision and regulation are the Department of Labor and Employment, Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Commission on Higher Education," he said.
Biazon said since the Aug. 31 IOM deadline is just more than a week away, he is filing a resolution on Monday calling on the government to address the problem.
He hoped the resolution would stop European nations from starting to lay off Filipino seafarers.
On the other hand, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. urged the DFA to look into the death of an OFW in Kuwait.
Villar sent a letter to Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario seeking an investigation into the death of Juvy Monteroso.
"Incidentally, her remains are still in Kuwait, and as such, assistance in the cadaver's repatriation will be highly appreciated," Villar also said in the letter dated Aug. 17, 2011. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Jess Diaz
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