DFA: Repatriation of OFWs from Syria to cost P200 million

MANILA, Philippines - It would cost the Philippine government around P200 million to repatriate all the 4,557 registered Filipino workers in Syria.

Each overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Syria would need about $4,000 in deployment costs and airfare to be able to fly home.

On the other hand, around 5,443 workers are considered illegal since they failed to register. They were also promised by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to be repatriated and the DFA would shoulder the cost of their return home if they want to leave Syria.

Recruitment and migration specialist Emmanuel Geslani urged the DFA, if they have the money from its Assistance to Nationals fund, to assist the OFWs wanting to leave Syria, following the visit of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario last week.

Del Rosario returned to the country Tuesday from Damascus and made the announcement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Del Rosario said most of the 10,000 Filipinos working in strife-torn Syria have refused to leave despite mounting violence in the country.

He said he tried to convince more Filipinos to leave during a recent visit to Syria, but “I did not see too many people who were enthusiastic about being repatriated.”

“I did not talk to anyone who wanted to be repatriated,” Del Rosario told a press briefing.

“The reason being there are no economic opportunities in the Philippines.”

Del Rosario added Filipinos were even entering Syria illegally to find work although he did not provide a figure.

He said many OFWs – most working as domestic helpers – did not think they were in danger.

“They feel that if they have a good employer, he will protect them. They don’t particularly feel threatened,” he said.

However, some Filipinos have accepted the government offer to fly home with about 1,000 likely to return over the next several weeks, Del Rosario said.

He said most of those who availed of the repatriation offer were household service workers who are unhappy with their employers and who already want to go home even before the outbreak of the conflict.

Many who are happy with their employers and want to enjoy the economic opportunities that can be had there will refuse reptriation, he said. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Rainier Allan Ronda