InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday raised the crisis alert level in Syria from alert level 3 to alert level 4 in view of the escalating violence in that country.
Under crisis alert level 4, mandatory repatriation at Philippine government’s expense will be implemented. Filipinos are enjoined to leave Syria immediately in light of the escalating tensions there.
“In view of the escalating violence in Syria, the Department of Foreign Affairs will be raising Alert Level 4 for the entire country of Syria effective today,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario stated.
He said, “I have directed the Department’s Executive Director for Migrant Workers Affairs, Ambassador Ricardo M. Endaya, to leave immediately for Syria and to assist our Philippine embassy in Damascus in the immediate repatriation of our fellow Filipinos there.”
“I have likewise instructed our embassy to assess the situation and submit daily reports, and an action and financial plan for the full implementation of Alert Level 4,” del Rosario added.
The embassy has been closely monitoring developments in the country, and has briefed the members of the Filipino community on the embassy’s contingency plans.
"Filipinos in Syria are advised to keep their communication lines open with the embassy and their community coordinators and inform them of their whereabouts. They are further advised to contact the embassy so that arrangements could be made for their immediate repatriation," the DFA said.
Last week, the embassy repatriated some 51 Filipinos. This brings the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria to 383 as of December 16.
There are some 5,000 Filipinos registered at the embassy in Damascus. The embassy’s hotline number is 00-963-116-132626. Families may also e-mail their requests and concerns through the embassy’s e-mail address pe.damascus@gmail.com.
In Manila, the DFA also activated hotline numbers for families of Filipinos based in Syria, at 834-3245 and 834-3240.
