5 August 2013 – The Philippine Embassies in Damascus and Beirut successfully implemented the 25th cross-border repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Syria on July 31, with the assistance and funding support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The Philippine Embassy in Beirut’s Border Team, composed of Vice Consul Rona Beth Goce, Property Officer and Administrative Assistant Chloe Silverio, Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) and Legal Officer Junaid Ali, together with two IOM personnel, traveled to the Masna’a border in the morning of July 31 to receive the 44 OFWs from the Philippine Embassy in Damascus and the Rapid Response Team (RRT).
After securing entry clearance from the Lebanese immigration at the Masna’a border, the Border Team escorted the two buses as they traveled from the border direct to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut for their 7:50 p.m. Emirates flight to Dubai en route to Manila.
Upon arrival, the Border Team turned over the OFWs to Vice Consul Dennis John Briones and his two Airport Team members, Consular Assistant Armand Dimaranan and Protocol Officer Antonio Cruz. They assisted the repatriates in completing the security, airline and immigration procedures.
Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz and her spouse, Mr. Ricardo Ruiz, were also present at the airport to wish the 44 OFWs a safe journey home and a happy reunion with their respective families.
To date, a total of 1,449 OFWs have been repatriated from Syria via Lebanon since the cross-border operation commenced on 12 December 2012. END