FVR: No need to evacuate Pinoys in tension-filled Middle East

Evacuation is an option, not a necessity.

According to a statement released by former President Fidel Ramos, "there is no need for now to evacuate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia."

Ramos attributed this lack of urgency for evacuation to "the easing up of tension that was triggered by the United States-inspired proposal to use force to dismantle the capability of the Iraqi government to produce weapons of mass destruction and effect a regime change in Iraq."

Ramos made his statements upon his return from a three-country trade mission to the Middle East. Ramos also returned with assurances from ranking government officials in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar that there will be no disruption in the Philippines’ oil supply should war break out between the US and Iraq.

The former president again left the country, this time for the US, to attend the semestral meeting of the International Crisis Group that is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East. Ramos is a trustee of the ICG, an international advisory group whose studies and recommendations are submitted to the United Nations (UN).

While there is no urgency to evacuate OFWs based in the Middle East, Ramos said he fully supports the decision of the Arroyo administration to form the Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT) headed by retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Roy Cimatu. The crisis management team has been tasked with drawing up a plan to evacuate OFWs who are stationed close to the battlefront should the need arise.

Of the 950,000 OFWs in Saudi Arabia, Ramos said, those to be evacuated if and when the need arises are those stationed in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia that borders Iraq.

Meanwhile, the government is set to adopt a policy that will allow OFWs to choose whether or not they will be evacuated.

Reports reaching the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Cimatu has ordered the revision of the evacuation plan for OFWs in the Middle East.

Cimatu said the Philippines must enforce the policy of selective and voluntary relocation – relocating only OFWs who desire evacuation – and double protection efforts for OFWs who choose to stay in the countries where they are employed.

"Those who wish to leave for relocation to safer ground may do so voluntarily and, for those who choose to stay, the government should do its utmost in explaining to them the situation and provide them with necessary assistance," Cimatu said.

Cimatu added that the policy of relocation for OFWs in the Middle East must be modified for the Filipino workers in Kuwait, considering that the Kuwaiti government is not considering evacuation as a response to the tension in the region.