Many Filipinos in Lebanon are choosing to stay despite the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, said Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez on Thursday.
Lebanon is currently under Alert Level 3, which allows Filipinos to leave voluntarily. However, Chavez explained that most Filipinos there feel safe and are not eager to leave.
“Most Filipinos in Lebanon are either married to locals or work as household helpers for Christian and Sunni families. They believe they are safe because the conflict targets Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim group,” Chavez said during an interview with Super Radyo DZBB.
Even though they feel safe, the Philippine government is ready to help those who want to return home. Chavez added that there are about 10,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Lebanon.
“We are preparing a repatriation plan for Filipinos in Lebanon,” he said. “From Beirut, we will take them to Cyprus, and from there, we are arranging chartered flights back to the Philippines.”
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to use all available resources to ensure the safe return of Filipinos affected by the Middle East crisis.
Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Raymond Balatbat also assured the president that they are speeding up exit clearances to make the repatriation process faster.
