18 March 2005 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo announced that 2 groups of OFWs who availed of the immigration amnesty program in Lebanon have arrived in the country with another group arriving tomorrow as the Lebanese government favorably considered the Philippine representations for inclusion of Filipinos in the program.

Charge d ‘ Affairs Mr. Nestor N. Padalhin of the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon reported to Secretary  Romulo said that after a series of official representations with Lebanese immigration authorities, the Philippines was included in the amnesty program that initially only covered Indian and Sri Lankan workers who had no working papers, as a gesture of compassion to these countries affected by the Asian tsunami last year.  The Embassy began the talks with Lebanese officials in May 2004  and intensified in February and March 2005.

CDA Padalhin said OFWs who avail of the amnesty through voluntary repatriation are exempted from payment of fines or imposition of penalties, regardless of the number of years they have overstayed in Lebanon, and from imprisonment or detention while their exit papers are being  processed. The only requirements imposed by the immigration authorities are valid travel documents (e.g. passports) and airlines rickets.

CDA Padalhin informed Secretary Romulo that the first group of  Filipinos, an OFW and her minor daughter, who availed of the amnesty or voluntary repatriation departed Beirut on Wednesday, 16 March 2005, and returned to Manila aboard GF-154 on Thursday, 17 March 2005 at 2350H.

The Second group is made up of twenty-eight (28) individuals (11 adults and 17 minor children).  They are expected to arrive on Friday, 18 March 2005, in two batches from Kuwait via KU-411 at 1615H and from Bahrain via GF-154 at 2350H.

The Third group departed from Beirut on Friday, 18 March 2005 and is expected to arrive tomorrow.

All of the OFW returnees are parents and children who have been stranded in Lebanon for years and were given favorable consideration by the Lebanese authorities who have recently been taking positive measures to combat human trafficking, CDA Padalhin said.

The DFA is withholding the names of the returnees to respect their privacy. END
 

/jay