DFA urged to step up rescue efforts for Syria OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Manuel Villar has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to step up rescue efforts for Filipinos trapped in Syria amid the mounting international calls for President Bashar Assad to step down.

“We cannot predict the reaction of President Assad to new sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies in Europe. While we continue to call for a peaceful resolution to the Syrian conflict, we also must double our efforts to keep thousands of overseas Filipino workers out of harm’s way,” Villar said in a statement over the weekend.

The senator said the DFA and DOLE should send more personnel to augment the rescue teams of the Philippine embassy.

He also urged the two agencies to conduct a joint briefing for families of OFWs in Syria and Libya to reduce their anxiety and provide them information that they can share with their loved ones.

Citing feedback coming from the OFW sector, Villar said it appears that the embassy is severely undermanned and some emergency calls are not being attended to.

“The DFA must communicate clearly and more frequently with families of OFWs in the strife-torn countries since the Philippine embassy in Damascus is under its jurisdiction. If the DFA is inaccessible and stingy with information, where else can our OFWs and their families run to?” Villar asked.

The senator noted that since a majority of OFWs in Syria are undocumented household workers and their passports being held by their employers, the success of the repatriation efforts of the Philippine government hinges on the effective negotiations of embassy officials with Syrian employers.

“Consider the challenge before us: 17,000 women workers at the household level requires just as many negotiations with their employers. The task isn’t easy and the DFA as well as DOLE must be forthright in explaining this before the public,” Villar said.

He said the government should send veteran labor attaches and experienced DFA staff to negotiate with stubborn employers. “Our OFWs in Syria are crying out for help and they deserve to be assisted by the best, most experienced teams that the DFA and DOLE can put together,” Villar added.