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Friday, March 29, 2024

Libyan fighting worsens threat to OFWs; alert up

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The Department of Foreign Affairs has raised up the Alert Level to 4 in Libya amid intensive fighting around the capital.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. said he already briefed President Rodrigo Duterte about raising the alert level in Tripoli on Tuesday.

“Yesterday, informed President that I raised the Alert Level to 4 in Tripoli + 100 kms around. More mortar fire, more Filipinos hurt. AL 4 is mandatory evacuation but we cannot compel—and rightly so. What is mandatory is that DFA stays in Tripoli until last OFW goes—& then it stays,” Locsin said on his Twitter account.

However, the DFA chief did not provide details about the injured Filipinos.

Locsin explained that Alert Level 4 calls for a mandatory evacuation of Filipinos there.

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In its bulletin posted on its website, the DFA also announced that it “elevated the alert in Tripoli and surrounding areas to Level IV due to increased threats to the safety of more than 1,000 Filipinos who are still there.”

Despite Locsin’s remarks, the Department of Labor and Employment said it is preparing for mandatory repatriation.

“The Alert Level was raised to [Alert Level] 4, so we will implement a mandatory repatriation,” said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III in an interview on Wednesday on the sidelines of a job fair in San Fernando, Pampanga.

There are 2,600 documented OFWs in Libya, most of whom are health workers.

On the other hand, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said it is still waiting for the official recommendation from the DFA as to the repatriation of Filipinos workers.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia noted that the procedures for the total deployment ban require official communication from the DFA to DOLE.

The POEA head said as of this time, they have yet to receive an official recommendation from the DFA.

On Wednesday, the DFA has raised the alert level to 4 in Libya due to fighting around the capital. Last month, the DOLE also deployed a quick response team to Tunisia to assist in repatriating Filipino workers.

Senator Joel Villanueva said he expects the relevant government agencies to carry out a repatriation plan now that the alert level has been raised in Libya.

“We acknowledge the fears of our OFWs and the uncertainty of their employment, given our government’s appeal to leave Libya and repatriate to safety,” said Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor and employment committee.

As in the past instances, he said DOLE can negotiate with employers to allow our Filipino workers to take a leave until the situation there becomes safe and peaceful.

He said the employers can also shoulder costs of repatriation as indicated in the employment contract.

“DOLE should also ensure that Libyan employers guarantee the safety and security of OFWs who choose to stay behind and work,” he said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

READ: DOLE ready to evacuate OFWs in Libya­­—Bello

READ: DFA: Two teams to bring OFWs home from Libya

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