29 September 2014 – Twenty-three (23) Filipinos from Syria, who availed of the Mandatory Repatriation Program (MRP), will arrive on September 30 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on board Emirates Airlines flight number EK-332 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Flight EK-332 is scheduled to arrive at 4:35 p.m. This brings the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria to 5,496. Of this number, 2,466 were repatriated through Lebanon, with the cooperation, assistance and support of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.

The 23 OFWs will travel by land from Damascus to Beirut on September 29. They will be assisted by Philippine Embassy in Beirut personnel during their transit at the Lebanese Masna’a border. The said repatriates underwent departure briefing and medical check-up prior to their travel to Manila. Their tickets were shouldered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Damascus.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Damascus continuously coordinates with the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates for the issuance of exit visas for OFWs who are currently sheltered at the Halfway Quarters.

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