Palace reiterates call for OFWs in Libya to come home

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday reiterated its call to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya to return home as soon as possible.

The government urged the remaining OFWs in the conflict-stricken country to avail of its mandatory repatriation program.

“When the situation in Libya started to become volatile, 13,000 po ang Filipinos na nandoon. So far, ang nasa bilang po natin ngayon, 4,000 po ang natitira,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

According to Valte, the Department of Foreign Affairs has been calling on the OFWs for immediate evacuation since crisis alert level 4 was raised in Libya in July last year.

“That’s why we’ve been repeatedly making the call to please come home because iba na po ang nagiging sitwasyon doon,” Valte said in an interview with radio dzRB on Saturday.

Valte added that the Philippine government is now having a difficulty in logistics since there are no more commercial flights in Libya.

“Kaya patuloy po nating sinusuportahan ang ating Foreign Affairs Department kapag sinasabi po nila doon sa mga natitira pa hong 4,000 Pilipino doon na huwag po nating isaalang-alang ang ating kaligtasan. At importante pong ligtas sila para makasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” Valte explained.

The Palace is hoping that more OFWs will avail of the repatriation operations as the challenges become greater as days pass.

Families of OFWs in Libya are also encouraged to convince their relatives to follow the government's call for immediate evacuation as it is no longer safe to remain in the conflict-stricken country.