PH waiting for exit clearances for repatriation of some Pinoys in Lebanon

VIENTIANE - Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Wednesday that the Philippine government is ready to repatriate Filipinos affected by the crisis in the Middle East, but the government is still waiting for the exit clearances from Lebanon.

During a Zoom meeting with President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr., Teodoro said repatriation would start once the government gets all the necessary exit clearances. 

“We’re ready, willing and able [to repatriate Filipinos] at any time. We’re just waiting for the diplomatic clearances of the expatriates to be processed out of Beirut,” Teodoro said.

Marcos gave a directive to concerned agencies to mobilize resources for the safe and timely repatriation of Filipinos affected by the hostilities in the region.

Earlier, it was reported that flight cancellations have delayed the repatriation of over a dozen Filipinos from Lebanon.

The Presidential Communications Office said that as of October 7, there is no reported injury or casualty among Filipinos since the airstrikes are focused in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The Philippine Embassy in Beirut has received 1,721 applications for repatriation, with 511 already repatriated and 171 ready for repatriation, according to the PCO.

Financial aid worth P150,000 from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) were given to each of the repatriated OFWs through the DMW AKSYON Fund and the OWWA Emergency Repatriation Fund.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News