The DFA has directed Executive Director for Migrant Workers Affairs, Ambassador Ricardo Endaya, to proceed to Syria on Saturday.

 

“We are leaving tonight and we expect to be in Syria tomorrow,” Endaya said.

 

Endaya said their main objective is to bring Filipinos out of the identified conflict areas in Syria. 

 

“Our mandate is to help in evacuating Filipinos in the conflict areas of Homs, Hama, Idlib and Daraa,” he told ANC on Saturday, adding that they are looking to repatriate between 150 and 200 Filipino workers in the conflict areas.

 

The DFA, he said, was able to repatriate about 800 Filipinos from Syria. However, there are still about a thousand Filipino workers waiting to be given their exit visas.

 

“As soon as they get their exit visas, we will be flying them home to Manila,” he said.

 

Earlier this week, DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario said they will resort to a strategy of extraction. 

 

“So rather than reduce the operating teams, to help our distressed nationals, we are expanding to do what is necessary,” the secretary said.

 

The DFA has raised alert level 4 in Syria, which means mandatory repatriation of all Filipinos. With ANC