By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — The government is prepared to repatriate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the escalating tensions in Lebanon, according to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.
“We’re ready, we stand ready to help upon their return,” Cacdac said.
Cacdac made this statement in response to the rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
The DMW official emphasized that even undocumented OFWs who wish to avail themselves of the voluntary repatriation offer from the government will receive necessary assistance, including vouchers for free training courses at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-accredited institutions.
“It’s a voluntary repatriation mode. All of them are still in the process of discerning or deciding, but the Ambassador’s call over the weekend was to urge them: ‘Please decide to come home,’ because the situation may worsen. There is real tension in that part of the world,” Cacdac stressed.
“So, hopefully, the situation doesn’t deteriorate further. But in case there is a need for repatriation, as I said, we are ready with our crisis management plans,” he added.
(ia/mnm)
