DFA lowers crisis alert level in Egypt

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday lowered the crisis alert level for Egypt due to continued improvement in the political and security situation there.

In a statement, the DFA downgraded the alert level from 3 (voluntary repatriation) to 2 (restriction phase), which is issued when there are real threats to the life, security, and property of Filipinos from internal disturbance or external threat.

"Restriction Phase allows only returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with existing employment contracts, or a group of OFWs under special circumstances, to go back to their host country," the DFA said.

The agency said a total of 168 Filipinos in Egypt have been repatriated to the Philippines as of November 17.

The Philippine Embassy in Cairo continues to extend assistance to some 6,000 Filipinos in Egypt.

The political and security situation in Egypt became unstable after the military ousted President Mohammed Morsi last July.

Egyptian security forces reportedly killed scores of the President's supporters while his Muslim Brotherhood called for an uprising.