14 September 2015 – Twenty-five (25) overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Syria who availed of the government’s Mandatory Repatriation Program (MRP) will arrive in Manila on September 16, 2015, 4:35 PM, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via flight EK-332.

The 25 OFWs previously worked and resided in Aleppo and Damascus before deciding to avail of the MRP and sought shelter at the Philippine Embassy in Damascus’ halfway Quarters.

The International Organization for Migration in Damascus shouldered the airfare of the 25 OFWs.

The repatriates, along with the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus, will travel by land on July 07 from Damascus to Lebanon’s Masna’a border where they will be met and assisted by officers and staff from the Philippine Embassy in Beirut. The OFWs received medical check-up and pre-departure briefing prior to their travel to Manila.

A total 5,697 Filipinos have been repatriated from Syria since the unrest started in 2011. Of this figure, 2,650 were repatriated through Lebanon, through the cooperation of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut.

Meanwhile, the Alert Level 4 still in place and the MRP being implemented, the Philippine Embassy in Damascus spares no effort in convincing Filipinos to avail of this repatriation program. The Embassy invites the next-of-kin of OFWs still in Syria to get in touch with the Embassy at the following contact details:

Mobile: 00963-11-613-2626; 00963-84-815-5557; 00963-93-495-7926

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The next-of-kin of Filipinos still in Syria are also encouraged to provide information of their family member’s whereabouts or last known contact details in Syria so that immediate assistance can be extended to them.

The Philippine Embassy in Damascus likewise 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. END