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56 Pinoys arrive from Syria

by Raffy Bosano, ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – Another batch comprising 56 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) returned to the country Saturday afternoon through a mandatory repatriation program after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised the crisis alert in Syria to its highest level several weeks ago.

DFA Undersecretary Esteban Conejos told the media that all of the repatriated OFWs were women who worked as domestic helpers in different areas of Syria.

Majority of them have not gone through the ideal process of recruitment which posed greater challenges for their repatriation.

“I can safely say na isa o dalawa lang ang dumaan sa proseso. ‘Yung iba hindi na dumaan sa POEA. Ang nag-recruit sa kanila mga Syrian recruiters na talaga. ‘Yun ay bawal sa ating batas,” Conejos said.

Urging OFWs to register

Because majority of OFWs in Syria are unaccounted by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Conejos urged OFWs to register with the Philippine embassy in Damascus.

“Ninety-five percent of OFWs in Syria are undocumented. Ibig sabihin, hindi sila dumaan sa POEA, sa OWWA. Kaya wala tayong record sa kanila. Kaya sa Damascus mayroon tayong registration program para malaman natin kung ilan talaga sila,” he said.

At present, 5,600 OFWs have already registered with the Philippine embassy, 1,400 of whom have signified their intention to return to the country. Around 600 have already been repatriated which according to Conejos, entails a tedious process.

“May katagalan minsan sa pagpapauwi dahil dapat ay i-release muna sila ng mga employer nila para ma-bigyan sila nung tinatawag na exit visa. Matagal na negosasyon. Kinakausap namin ‘yung mga employers nila bago sila pauwiin.”

Government measures

Conejos said the government is now focusing on the four areas of Syria—Homs, Hama, Idlib and Daraa—which are greatly affected by the conflict, saying that a task force that would look after OFWs has already been created.

He also said that during DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario’s visit to Syria last January 2, talks between him and Syria’s Foreign Minister took place.

He said that Syria’s Foreign Minister promised Del Rosario that he will personally write to the mayors and governors of the four cities to bring OFWs to the Philippine embassy in Damascus or in areas where they can be picked up and brought to safety.

Another government priority with regards to the welfare of OFWs in Syria is to have all OFWs in Syria register with the Philippine embassy. This, in effect, will facilitate the third priority of repatriating workers through the mandatory repatriation program.

Meanwhile, a National Re-integration Program awaits the OFWs who have returned. Administered by the OWWA, the program provides livelihood projects and allows them to re-train with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority TESDA in order to upgrade their different skills.

“By possessing more skills than what they have now, pwede ulit silang lumabas ng bansa para magtrabaho,” Conejos said.

No plans of going back

Meanwhile, workers who have returned have scratched the possibility of returning to Syria.

Salma Mastula, a native of Davao City, said that she is forced to clean up to five different homes by her employers despite the fact that her salary is delayed and at times not given at all.

“Delayed ang sahod. Minsan hindi pa sinasahuran. Ayoko na sa Syria. I hate Syria. Ewan ko kung bakit pumunta pa kami doon,” she said.

Another OFW, Mylene Meneses from Pangasinan, said that aside from fear of rattling guns and exploding guns, she also fears her employers.

“Matapang ang employers. Tingin nila samin maliliit lang. Nagpapasalamat lang ako na andito na ako at hindi ako nasakatan,” she tearfully said.

OWWA has provided stress debriefing to the repatriated OFWs. Those who live outside Manila will also be sheltered by OWWA to allow them to rest before arranging their return to their different provinces.

56 Pinoys arrive from Syria

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