00:00Lebanon is turning to be a no-man's land with increasing Israeli air and artillery strikes even as the Iranian-based
00:08Hezbollah continues to ramp up its armed attacks inside Israel as a result
00:12The DFA is sending an augmented mission to Beirut to get as many migrant Filipino workers out in spite of a number of
00:20OFWs vowing to stay no matter what. Our Noel Talakai has the latest on the government's repatriation efforts in the Middle East
00:30The Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration or OWWA confirmed this morning
00:35It is set to send a rapid response team to Lebanon as augmentation response
00:40This announcement was made by OWWA administrator Arnel Ignacio
00:45following the recent escalation of tensions between
00:48Lebanon-based Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Force and Netanyahu government
00:54What we can assure you is that OWWA, the DMW and the DFA, we will be ready
01:01According to the record of OWWA, there are a thousand Filipinos signed and
01:05Volunteered to go back here in the Philippines. Of that number, more than 300 overseas Filipino workers or
01:12OFW have made it back to the Philippines and returned to their respective provinces
01:18The OWWA also admits that despite a rising tension, there are still Filipinos who opt to stay in Lebanon
01:48With this, OFW Partylist Representative Magsino urges Filipinos in Lebanon to take advantage of the re-opening of airports to go back to the country.
02:06She said they should prioritize saving their lives instead of worrying about their incomes.
02:12The government is willing to provide livelihood assistance, she added.
02:18We have opened airports, we have evacuated and we will not hesitate to have you repatriated.
02:27She also said that her office is also providing help to repatriated OFWs, especially those coming from Lebanon.
02:36We have seminars on mental health so we can see what your positions are.
02:41We also have IMRAP, Inter-Agency Medical Repatriation, so we can check your OFW Partylist.
02:49You will be connected to our agencies so we can see your well-being.
02:54Recently, the Department of Foreign Affairs, or DFA, released an advisory recommending Filipinos in Beirut, South Lebanon, and Bicca Valley to evacuate.
03:05The agency has also issued contact numbers and other ways of communication for repatriation assistance.
03:13According to the OWA and DFA, there are over 11,300 Filipinos in Lebanon.
03:19Both agencies are implementing a comprehensive and a whole-of-government approach to provide assistance and ensure the safety of all Filipinos there.
03:28Noel Talacay, from the National TV Network, for New and Better Philippines.
