DFA resources stretched to the limit

MANILA, Philippines - The resources of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are being stretched to the limit as it tries to find ways to evacuate Filipinos from strife-torn countries Syria and Afghanistan – but now it has to prepare for another possible conflict: Iran.

In an exclusive interview with News5, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario admitted they have their hands full coping with the crises in the Middle East but used this as an example why the DFA must rationalize its operations – such as the closure of 10 embassies and consulates.

Del Rosario emphasized the closures would not compromise their mission to help Filipinos.

“It isn’t correct to say we have neglected our people,” Del Rosario stressed.

Del Rosario said he, along with the DFA team, was set to leave on another rescue mission last week – this time to Afghanistan.

But the mission was scrapped when they lost their security force. They were on a mission to rescue some 5,000 Filipino workers in Afghanistan following the upsurge of violence due to the Koran burning incident by US troops.

Attacks on US and foreign forces in Afghanistan spiked following the incident, with US President Barack Obama publicly apologizing for the incident in an effort to stem the violence.

Del Rosario said the Filipino workers were employed by various contract agencies working with US and other foreign governments.

Just as they were about to leave, they learned that NATO forces that were supposed to provide security were withdrawn.

“There has been violence that has been escalating, we understand the NATO people had been pulled back so it was NATO that was supposed to provide us with security,” he said. “So now, we need to take a second look.”

Del Rosario explained the plan is for the Filipinos to be evacuated over land.

Difficulty in Syria

As for Syria, Del Rosario said a joint delegation from the Philippine National Police, Department of Labor and Employment and the DFA is now stationed outside Homs, scene of the most intense fighting between government forces of President Assad and rebel forces.

“Every time we try to go in, we get bounced out,” Del Rosario said. “They are waiting for a humanitarian corridor to be established so they can go in and get these guys out.”

“We are waiting for it to happen, the UN is supposed to be arranging for it but it seems that instead of getting better, its getting worse,” he added.

The Philippine team has set up outposts at the outskirts of Homs “to be able to catch these people.”

“We are postured to go in there but it is difficult, we are trying to weigh our options,” he admits.

President Aquino, on the other hand, has appointed Nestor Padalhin as the country’s new ambassador to strife-torn Syria.

Padalhin was appointed six months after his predecessor Ambassador Wilfredo Cuyugan was recalled. Padalhin is Philippine ambassador to Nigeria.

Last December, Del Rosario appealed for a career diplomat to be appointed to Syria to oversee efforts by the Philippine embassy to convince the 4,557 registered Filipinos to heed the government’s call for mandatory repatriation.

Former Assistant Secretary Olivia Palala of the DFA Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination assumed as charge d’ affaires at the Philippine embassy in Damascus.

Palala, who holds the rank of Chief of Mission I, had previously served as consul general at the Philippine consulate general in Manado and later at the Philippine consulate general in Agana.

The DFA estimates there are between 16,000 to 20,000 Filipinos in Syria but 95 percent of them are undocumented.

Some 7,000 workers have registered with the Philippine embassy in Damascus and over a thousand have been repatriated. Another 400 to 500 workers have signed up for repatriation.

Del Rosario recounted that if an undocumented worker chooses to leave, it is not a simple matter of picking them up and putting them on a plane. Most of the undocumented workers are household service workers.

“We have to go to each employer to be able to negotiate their contracts, we have to pay them off and buy out their contract, that’s number one. Then because they are undocumented, we have to go to immigration and pay the penalty because they are overstaying or they don’t have the right papers,” Del Rosario explained.

Only when these are resolved can the DFA buy them a plane ticket.

“I think the average cost to repatriate per person is in the neighborhood of $2,500, that is a lot of money, so the government is paying for this,” he said, “Our problem has been exacerbated by the fact that certain areas are no man’s land. It is a challenge to get the people out of Syria.” – With Pia Lee-Brago