Taal stalls arrival of OFWs from Iraq

The first batch of repatriated overseas Filipino workers from Iraq will have to wait longer before they could come home as their flight may be delayed due to the eruption of Taal Volcano, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed yesterday.

Lorenzana, chairperson of the Committee on the Repatriation Filipinos in the Middle East, said the first batch composed of 12 OFWs from Baghdad was scheduled to depart for Doha, Qatar at 9 p.m. last night (Baghdad time). They are supposed to arrive in Doha at 12:30 a.m. this morning.

From there, the OFWs are scheduled to board a Qatar Airways flight to Manila.

"However, this still has to be finalized as all flights coming into Manila have been cancelled because of the Taal Volcano eruption," Lorenzana said.

Meanwhile, Lorenzana said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who is in Doha, is set to accompany the OFWs on their way home once their flight is confirmed.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac was scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia "to personally see to the welfare of our OFWs in the Middle East and assist in the repatriation effort," the Defense chief noted.

"The Rapid Response Teams of the Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Foreign Affairs have been advised of his impending arrival," he added.

There were also requests for repatriation from OFWs in Iraq, Libya, and other Middle East hotspots that were received by the Philippine Embassies and Consulates.

"Their exit clearances are now being processed," Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana had earlier said that the first batch, which was initially composed of 14 OFWs, will be flown to Manila by Jan. 12.