23 July 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that 26 Filipinos from Syria, who availed of the Mandatory Repatriation Program (MRP), will arrive on July 25 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 10:10 p.m. (22:10H) on board Emirates Airlines flight number EK-334 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This brings the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria to 5,450. Of this number, 2,422 were repatriated through Lebanon, with the cooperation, assistance and support of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Their tickets were provided, free of charge, by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Damascus.

The 26 Filipinos will travel by land from Damascus to Beirut on July 24. They will be assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Beirut personnel during their transit at the Lebanese Masna’a border. The repatriates underwent departure briefing and medical check-up prior to their travel to Manila.

With the MRP still in place, the Philippine Embassy is inviting the next-of-kin of Filipino workers who are still in Syria to get in touch with the Embassy a the following contact details: 00963-11-6132626, 00963-949155557, 00963-934957926, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and to provide information of their family member’s whereabouts so that immediate assistance can be extended to them. END