DOLE beefs up personnel in 6 'danger' countries

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has beefed up its personnel in at least six countries where the security situation threatens the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Aside from the teams that we have already on the ground in Libya, [the DOLE has] assigned more labor attachés and welfare officers to Tunisia, Egypt, Malta, Yemen, Bahrain, and Greece," Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said in a news release posted on the government portal. (http://www.gov.ph/2011/02/28/update-on-libya-dole-beefs-up-posts-in-the-middle-east/) She said the teams have instructions to attend to the welfare and protect the needs of OFWs because of the present situation in their assigned region. Baldoz said the labor attachés on temporary assignments include Bulyok Nilong and Adam Musa, who are going to Libya, Resty dela Fuente to the United Arab Emirates, and Delmer Cruz and David Des Dicang to Bahrain. The assigned welfare officers meanwhile are Ron Lionel Bartolome and James Mendiola (Tunisia), Eduardo Mendoza Jr. and Sergio Borgueta Jr. (Egypt), Mario Antonio and Orlando Nadora (Malta), Cesar Chavez Jr. and Romyl Cabillo (Yemen), Paterno Juridico Jr. (Bahrain), and William Merginio and Mamerto Mercado (Greece). “These labor attaches and welfare officers will augment and complement the labor attachés, welfare officers, and administrative personnel, including local hires, who are already stationed in some of these countries. They shall work in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs," said Baldoz. Evacuation OFWs from Libya Baldoz said the evacuation and repatriation of OFWs from Libya remain in full swing. She said the Philippine government has chartered a ferry, the “Ionian Queen," from Greece to Benghazi to evacuate 1,500 OFWs there. (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/214146/phl-govt-hires-ship-to-evacuate-ofws-in-libya) “The ferry is leaving Crete today and is expected to arrive at the Gulani Port in Benghazi tomorrow. It will return to Crete where arrangements are already being made to temporarily accommodate our OFWs and transport them to the Philippines," Baldoz said. Late Sunday, Baldoz discussed the evacuation by sea with DFA and DOLE officials. She disclosed that as of 1p.m. Monday, three more flights with OFWs were due to arrive in the Philippines. These include:

• EY 424 arriving at 4:15 with 26 OFWs
• SV 860 arriving at 4:45 with four OFWs
• EK 334 arriving at 10:30 P.M. with 21 OFWs

“There are already 342 OFWs who are home from various parts of Libya as of today. There are more arriving... March 1 and 2 and in the succeeding days," she said. Baldoz said Labor Attaché Nasser Mustafa had also reported that some employers were evacuating their workers from Benghazi, and that OFWs should be allowed to go with employers who are willing to take them in their evacuation. “My instruction to Labatt Mustafa was to allow OFWs who would like to join their employers in their evacuation, and to report to the home office their number, their names, and the names of their employers so we could keep track," Baldoz said. “We continue to communicate our efforts to the public regularly and we wish to assure our OFWs in Libya and their families here at home that the government is sincerely doing the best that it can under the circumstances for their safety and protection," she added. — MRT/PE/VS, GMA News