PH Embassy in Lebanon bared flight repatriation amid Israel aggression

The Philippine Embassy in Beirut urged Filipinos in Lebanon to prepare necessary flight documentations as it organizes a repatriation program in response to the rising tension of Lebanon-Israel conflict on Oct. 15, 2024. 

In its statement to a Facebook post, the Embassy directed the Filipinos to arrange flight requirements for chartered planes, including their passports and ‘iqamas’ (work permits) with Alert 3 being raised in Lebanon.

The Embassy provided an advisory on Wednesday, allowing interested Filipinos to register for repatriation, while indicating that the date for Filipinos’ return remains uncertain.

“Wala pang tiyak na petsa ng pagpapauwi ngunit dapat na handa ang mga aplikanteng lumipad pauwi anumang petsa na ihayag ng Pasuguan,” it read on the registration form. 

The Embassy also asserted its coordination with Lebanese authorities for the exit clearances of undocumented Filipinos.

“The Embassy is actively coordinating with Lebanese authorities to expedite the urgent release of exit clearances for undocumented Filipino nationals,” as stated on the advisory.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is also actively facilitating the repatriation of 11,000 Filipinos, with an estimation of over 254 Filipino returns from October 14 to 28. They also provided the numbers of pending repatriation requests under the Lebanese immigration authorities.

“Mayroong higit-kumulang 300 or so na pending before the Lebanese immigration authorities. So, higit-kumulang 500 ang mga alam nating nagnanais na umuwi sa Pilipinas,” Migrant Secretary Hans Cacdac said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.