Philippines to repatriate 213 Filipinos from Lebanon

The Philippine government is set to repatriate 213 Filipinos via commercial flights from Lebanon, including more than 20 this weekend, amid escalating tensions between Beirut and Israel.

Migrants Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the government is placing the Filipinos in different commercial flights due to difficulty in booking a large number of seats for the repatriation effort.

“We are placing them in 3 separate flights in as many days,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

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Some 400 Filipinos are still awaiting clearance from Lebanese immigration before they can be repatriated, he said.

Philippine authorities are also doing roving operations in Beirut and other areas to ensure that Filipinos affected by the ongoing tensions are not forced to sleep on the streets including parks and tents. A total of 178 Filipinos are currently staying in temporary shelters, Cacdac said.

“Tumawag lang sila, maaari natin silang pick-up-in o sunduin sa kanilang pick-up point at dalhin sa shelter,” he said.

Repatriation of Filipinos in Lebanon remains voluntary for now, he said, but noted the government is ready if mandatory evacuation is implemented. 

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