"The first duty of our Government is to protect our citizens." - President Benigno S. Aquino III
In view of the escalating violence and widespread insecurity in Libya, the Department is on a full relocation and repatriation mode.
The Philippine Embassy has activated relocation centers in Tripoli and Benghazi for OFWs to stay in, unless they feel safe where they are, in which case they should remain there until further notice.
The OFWs in the relocation centers will be moved to exit points where they will be transported out of Libya.
CURRENT INITIATIVES
1. Shipping arrangements are being made to take out Filipinos in Benghazi to the sage haven of Crete, and those in Tripoli to the safe haven of Malta, where they will be flown to locations where commercial flights to Manila are available.
2. Alternative land routes are being established out of Libya. For those in Tripoli and environs, an outpost is being set up on the border of Tunisia. For those in the Benghazi area their land route would be through the outpost in As Sallum, a border town of Egypt.
3. Embassy personnel are posted in these outposts to provide necessary assistance.
INITIATIVES IN PLACE
1. OFWs are enjoined to avail of employer-organized repatriation.
2. For others, relocation sites have been activated: the Philippine School and the Filipino Workers Resource Center in Tripoli and the two Philippine schools in Benghazi.
3. An increasing number of personnel are deployed and are assisting in Libya, particularly at the border crossings of Tunisia and Egypt.
4. The President has alloted an initial amount of over a hundred million pesos for the repatriation program and emergency services of Filipino nations.
5. The assistance of the International Organization for Migration, as well as other countries, have been enlisted.
ASSISTANCE TO EXTENDED FAMILIES
1. In cooperation with SMART, a 24-hour "Libreng tawag" is available at the DFA for families of OFWs to talk directly to relatives in Libya.
2. A crisis management center has been set-up, with a 24-hour hotline number (834-4580) at the DFA, for families of OFWs to get information about their relatives in Libya.
The DFA is fully committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of our beloved overseas workers in Libya.