Secretary Locsin Welcomes Lebanon OFWs on Christmas Day
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (seated, center) and Executive Director Enrico T. Fos of the DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs welcomed the repatriates from Lebanon on 25 December 2019. (Kathleen Salonga photo)
25 December 2019 - It was a heartwarming Christmas for a total of 26 overseas foreign workers (OFW) from Lebanon who were repatriated on 25 December 2019 with no less than Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. welcoming the group home.
The group forms the second batch of distressed Filipinos repatriated from the Middle East country that is experiencing deepening financial difficulties. The first batch, which comprised 30 OFWs, arrived in Manila two days earlier.
The Secretary, in his welcome address, expressed his appreciation for the swift action of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (OUMWA) in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, to bring as many distressed Filipinos home the soonest possible time.
"We will do our job no matter what. The President has already spoken and we will deliver," said Secretary Locsin referring to the marching orders from President Duterte to bring home distressed Filipinos overseas and to take them out of harm's way.
Earlier this month, DFA-OUMWA sent a Rapid Response Team to assist the Embassy in managing the repatriation.
As the day of the repatriation coincided with the most important day of the season of giving, Secretary Locsin also took time to personally share the cash gift from the DFA to each and every repatriate.
"This is not much but we are hoping this will help cheer you up after what you have been through," said the Secretary.
Aside from the cash gift to help the repatriates to start over, the Migrants Workers' Affairs unit of the DFA also shouldered the cost of repatriation to Manila as well as the transit to their home provinces. The immigration costs as well as penalties imposed in Lebanon were also covered by the DFA.
Members of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), headed by DOJ Undersecretary Emmelyn Aglipay-Villar, were also at the airport to receive the group and assist them should they decide to pursue filing cases against their illegal recruiters.
IACAT is the body mandated by law to coordinate and monitor the implementation of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. END
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. met the Filipinos repatriated from Lebanon and welcomed them at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on 25 December 2019. (Charlyn Lau photo)
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. shared the cash gift from the DFA to the repatriates from Lebanon. (Kathleen Salonga photo)
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and the repatriates from Lebanon were all smiles at the welcome program held at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on 25 December 2019. (Kathleen Salonga photo)