Filipino workers in Lebanon urge Manila to speed up repatriation

Over 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon are urging the Philippine government for expedited repatriation amid escalating violence from Israeli attacks, which have resulted in over 1,000 casualties. Joanna Concepcion, president of Migrante International, a global alliance of overseas Filipino workers, highlighted the urgent concerns of many Filipinos in Lebanon, saying: “This time, the situation is worrying them and they feel there is nowhere safe anymore.” Legal obstacles and employer permissions complicate their departure, because the Lebanese government has suspended certain operations. Venacio Legaspi from the Department of Migrant Workers assured that efforts for safe repatriation are ongoing, but many workers are calling for mandatory repatriation to ensure their safety. “When will they act? When some people have already died here?” Filipino worker Christine Lao said at a press conference hosted by Migrante International. “I call on all government agencies to pay attention to us . . . After being here for so long, we never considered returning home, but now it has become a matter of life and death. We can no longer hold back.”