Task Force Lebanon reviewing contingency plan for OFWs

Vice President Noli de Castro has ordered Task Force Lebanon to review its contingency plan for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the wake of possible civil unrest, especially in the Lebanese capital of Beirut.

De Castro, presidential adviser on OFWs and head of the task force, said yesterday in his weekly radio program, "Para Sa Iyo Bayan," that he is awaiting the new assessment of the Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT) on the security situation in Lebanon.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said in the same radio program that MEPT head Ambassador Roy Cimatu and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) deputy administrator Angelo Jimenez are already in Lebanon to monitor the situation.

"This is a different kind of threat compared with the one last July, (which) was the air strike (between) Israel and Lebanon. Now, there could be civil unrest so we have to review our contingency plan and locate all OFWs, which is the instruction of (the) Vice President," Conejos said.

The general strike wherein angry Lebanese protesters burned tires in the streets of Beirut last Tuesday and the clashes near the airport on Thursday are feared to lead to civil unrest.

Four people were shot dead in clashes between pro-and anti-government activists on Thursday and about 200 were hurt in the violence that flared after a scuffle between students at a Beirut university.

The United States embassy in Beirut said the situation there had become "quite dangerous" and Syria was involved again. Washington backs Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

"We’re trying to revive and energize the Filipino community and organizers. We’re also looking again at the feasibility of routes used during the evacuation of our OFWs last July," Conejos said.

The Philippine Embassy in Beirut was also asked how much it has in standby funds, which will be used if the situation worsens and evacuation becomes necessary.

Lebanese immigration officials informed the embassy that around 11,000 OFWs left Lebanon during the height of Israel-Lebanon conflict last year. Of the 11,000 OFWs, 5,000 Filipino nationals left Lebanon with their employers while around 6,000 returned to the Philippines.

De Castro appealed to families of at least 3,000 undocumented Filipino workers who returned to Lebanon to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the task force with information on their identities and location for the embassy to get in touch with them in the event of an evacuation.