THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed Saturday that no Filipinos were injured in recent Israeli air strikes in Beirut, Lebanon.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac stated that the majority of the 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon are still in Beirut, with only 178 having moved to three separate government shelters.
The Israeli army conducted two air attacks on Lebanon’s highly populated capital city on Friday, killing 22 people and wounding 117.
“So far, we have not heard of any Filipinos being harmed or killed in the attacks in Lebanon, whether in southern Lebanon or in Beirut. It is God’s compassion, so we’re praying it will stay that way. Let’s just continue our prayers,” Cacdac added.
The Philippine Embassy in Beirut recommended Filipino nationals to avoid affected areas, particularly Ras al-Nabaa and Noueiri, and to stay up to current by monitoring local news outlets and the embassy.
Cacdac reports that the majority of Filipinos in Lebanon work as domestic assistants.
Manila has raised Lebanon’s alert level to Level 3 due to the growing conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Under Alert Level 3, Filipinos may choose voluntary repatriation with P150,000 cash aid and livelihood training.
“That’s unprecedented (our help). Before P100,000, we increased it to P150,000,” Cacdac shared.
At least 570 Filipinos have expressed interest in taking advantage of the government’s repatriation program, with 221 already having acquired airline tickets and another 350 more being processed through immigration.
Two people arrived in the country on Friday, with 20 more expected this weekend.
“Because, what will happen there, when they go home, they don’t have a job…so they have something with them while going through the process of testing or unemployment,” Cacdac said. “Right now, Alert Level 3, there’s a total ban. They can’t come back right now.”
Last Wednesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commanded the evacuation of Filipinos in Lebanon “by whatever means,” but did not call for mandatory repatriation.
“We are just putting the plans together how we will bring them back home as quickly as possible,” Marcos addressed .