DFA, DOLE blame each other over slow action in saving OFW lives

MANILA, Philippines - Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) blamed each other for the government’s poor response in saving Filipino workers in troubled countries like Libya at a hearing at the House of Representatives yesterday.

During the joint hearing of the House committees on overseas workers affairs and foreign affairs, it was revealed that DFA and DOLE officials have not been coordinating on the protection of Filipino workers in Libya, Yemen and Bahrain, which are all experiencing political unrest.

Lawmakers chided Enrico Fos of the DFA’s Office of Migrant Workers Affairs for his failure to give concrete details regarding the agency’s action.

Fos could not answer if a number of the 30,000 OFWs in Libya have been evacuated already.

“What kind of monitoring are you doing on the situation there?” Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay asked.

Fos explained that the DFA has set up “coordination centers” in Libya, Bahrain, and Yemen but said Philippine officials there cannot coordinate because of poor communication and Internet connection.

“In other words, the DFA is duping us. They cannot reach our OFWs there,” Magsaysay said.

It was discovered during the hearing that the DOLE allowed the deployment of hundreds of workers to Bahrain and Yemen including some leaving just this week despite widespread reports on the erupting violence there.

Fos said this was because the DOLE has not issued a deployment ban to these countries.

However, lawyer Jone Fung of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) blamed the DFA for not giving a situation report.

President Aquino yesterday said that all systems have already been put in place to assure the safety of Filipinos in the war-torn country.

“Perhaps they should be acting positively, the DFA in particular. But the system is already in place. There have been arrangements already made. OFWs should be brought to safer locations, although the initial batch are still on voluntary, not forced repatriation,” he said.

Aquino disclosed that there seemed to be more OFWs in Libya and Bahrain than in Egypt, where tension eased following the ouster of strongman Hosni Mubarak.

The Philippine embassy in Tripoli has raised its alert level and is making arrangements for voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in Libya in light of ongoing civil unrest and protest actions in the country.

In a press briefing yesterday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said the alert level in Libya was raised to level 3, which means voluntary repatriation, although no Filipino has been injured in the civil unrest.

But the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos does not apply in Bahrain and Yemen where protest actions are also taking place.

Conejos said the embassy received information that it is dangerous for individuals to be moving around Tripoli and Benghazi and Filipinos are advised to move only if it’s part of measures of the companies they are working for.

Violence in Libya escalated after embattled President Moammar Ghadafi urged his supporters to arrest protesters and declared that he would rather die a martyr than leave office.

OFWs in Tripoli who wish to avail of voluntary repatriation are advised to call the embassy or community coordinators in their area and to remain indoors and not go out alone in the streets.

Those in Benghazi, Al-Baida and other areas are similarly asked to communicate with their sectoral coordinators. They are also advised to stay put and not venture outdoors alone.

If their companies have repatriation arrangements, they are advised to join the repatriation efforts.

Conejos said a number of Filipinos have expressed desire to be repatriated.

Embassy officials and community coordinators are contacting Filipinos in Libya to inquire about their condition and inform them of the embassy’s voluntary repatriation program.

There are around 30,000 Filipinos working in Libya, where a majority are professionals and skilled workers.

“They’re working for big companies which have their own contingency plan so we advise them to stick with their company, move with them. Every movement must be coordinated and organized,” he added.

All hands on deck

The DFA said it has dispatched a quick response team from its Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) to augment the embassy staff in Libya.

The team, which departed Tuesday evening, is composed of DFA-OUMWA executive director Ricardo Endaya and two other staff.

The DFA also made available an additional $50,000 to the embassy, and will further augment it with $100,000 for the voluntary repatriation program, while the DOLE has also committed P25 million to assist in the program.

The DFA activated a 24-hour hotline for families of Filipinos based in Libya. The hotline number is 834-4580.

Conejos said the DFA has made arrangements with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the latter’s aid in the repatriation of Filipinos. The embassyis also in touch with the IOM office in Libya. – With Delon Porcalla, Pia Lee-Brago, Mayen Jaymalin, Alexis Romero, Marvin Sy, Aurea Calica, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rudy Santos