17 November 2004 – The Department of Foreign Affairs today announced the publication of the 19-page bilingual “Security Manual for OFWs in Iraq,” (with the Filipino title “Babasahin para sa Kaligtasan ng mga Manggagawang Pilipino sa Iraq”) for distribution to the Filipino workers who find themselves in various US military camps and other employment sites throughout Iraq.

The Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration printed 10,000 copies of the Manual to be distributed by the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad to the 6,000 or so OFWs there.  DFA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Rafael E. Seguis brought along with him a number of copies of the security manual for immediate distribution when he flew to the Middle East last week.  Undersecretary Seguis was able to enter Baghdad on Monday, 15 November 2004, to join Team Iraq in its efforts to secure the safe release of OFW Robert Theodore V. Tarongoy who was abducted by an armed group on 01 November.  The rest of the copies were sent by the DFA via air pouch.

The security manual for Iraq-based OFWs is part of the government’s relentless efforts at securing the safety and well-being of Filipinos overseas, especially in Iraq.  The Philippines is currently implementing an OFW deployment ban to Iraq, as well as securing the lives of Filipinos already inside the strife-torn country.

The manual’s text was prepared by the DFA crisis management team with inputs from the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, as well as the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Team Iraq.  The manual details four specific, color-coded security alert levels (white, yellow, orange and red) and the corresponding protocols that Filipinos must follow when a certain alert level is raised.  The manual then details a system whereby camp/area coordinators for each job site with OFWs shall cooperate with the “Philippine Embassy overall coordinator” to any contingency measure.  The manual names seven camp/area coordinators for seven different job sites throughout Iraq.

The manual also provides OFWs with vital contact numbers of key action agencies and personalities that Filipinos in Iraq may get in touch with, including the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, the DFA Action Center in the Pasay City DFA Home Office and Chargé d’Affaires Ricardo M Endaya. END.