DFA raises crisis alert level in Libya

MANILA, Philippines - Over 50 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya have signified their intention to be repatriated after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised yesterday the crisis alert level to three over the North African country amid worsening unrest.  

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said an augmentation team will be deployed to Libya this week to assist in the repatriation.

“There are now 51 Filipinos who have registered with the embassy for voluntary repatriation since Alert Level 3 was raised on May 29,” he said. “We will be sending an augmentation team by this week to augment our embassy personnel and the rapid response team. They will be meeting with employers, officials and the Filipino community.”  

Last May 27, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario left for Tripoli to meet with Philippine embassy officials and the Rapid Response Team to implement the government’s contingency plan for OFWs.

The DFA said Del Rosario decided to personally go to Libya in view of the worsening security situation.

Effective May 29, Crisis Alert Level was raised from Level 2 (Restriction Phase) to Level 3 (Voluntary Repatriation).  Under Alert Level 3, Filipinos in Libya are encouraged to leave the country voluntarily as soon as possible. The government will shoulder the repatriation cost.

Filipinos in Libya are advised to contact the Philippine embassy in Tripoli to coordinate their repatriation.

At the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has created a Crisis Quick Response Team to help ensure the safety of OFWs Libya.

In a statement, Baldoz said she has signed Administrative Order No. 262, Series of 2014 creating the Quick Response Team within the DOLE to coordinate with the DFA and the concerned Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

“I have created this Quick Response Team in view of the continuing deterioration of the political and security situation in Libya as indicated by the decision of the Department of Foreign Affairs to raise the crisis alert level status for Libya from Crisis Alert Level 2 to Crisis Alert Level 3,” she said. “Members of the Libyan Crisis Quick Response Team are instructed to prepare for possible deployment to Libya should the need arises.”  

The Quick Response Team will closely monitor and assess the situation of OFWs in Libya. It will also submit regular reports and recommendations to   Baldoz through the Office of the Undersecretary for Employment.

Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is the team’s chairman. Its members are Labor Attachés Ramon Tionloc from POEA; Romulo Carlos Salud and Apolonio Alvarez Jr. from the National Capital Region; David Des Dicang, Bernardino Julve, Nasser Munder and Merriam Cuasay from the Office of the Secretary; Jeffrey Cortazar from the National Reintegration Center (NRCO); Albert Valenciano and Eduardo Mendoza of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); Edwynpole Divinagracia of the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB). Director Nicon Fameronag of the Labor Communications Office and Charmaine de la Cruz of ILAB make up the Libyan Crisis Quick Response Team’s communications office.

An estimated 12,000 OFWs are in Libya: 4,000 permanent residents, 4,000 rehires and 4,000 new hires.

Based on POEA deployment records, the new hires in Libya have increased from 281 in 2012 to 4,093 in 2013. 

In terms of deployment, Libya has an almost equal number of professional workers, technical and related workers, production and transport equipment workers and laborers.