11 November 2015 - Thirty-one (31) Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Syria who availed of the Philippine Government’s Mandatory Repatriation Program (MRP) will arrive in Manila today, November 11, at 3:10 p.m. at Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via flight QR 926.

The 31 repatriates previously worked and resided in Latakia, Tartous, 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 (IOM) in Damascus shouldered the airfare of the 31 OFWs.

The repatriates, along with the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus, traveled by land on November 10 from Damascus to Lebanon’s Masna’a border where they will be met and assisted by officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut. Overseeing the cross border repatriation procedures is Chargé d’ Affaires Nestor N. Padalhin.

Prior to their travel to Manila, the repatriates received medical check-up and pre-departure briefing.

With this development, the total number of Filipinos that have been repatriated from Syria since the unrest started in 2011 is now at 5,668. Of this figure, 2,696 were repatriated through Lebanon, with the cooperation of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut.

Meanwhile, with 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 encourages 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 Embassy can also be reached through their Facebook page, The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, Damascus.  END