The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will continue its repatriation efforts for Filipinos and their families who wish to go home to the Philippines as the war between Israel and Hamas persists.

In a weekly news forum in Quezon City, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the government is now assisting their ninth batch of repatriates who are affected by the conflict in Israel.

“Sa Israel ay patuloy ang repatriation effort natin – nagkaroon na tayo ng ninth batch for up to 299 OFWs who flew in with 14 infants or children – so, that brings us to 313 in Israel and middle of or later this coming week ay mayroon na naman tayong 10th batch na pag-dating,” De Vega said.

A separate repatriation effort is also ongoing in Lebanon, De Vega added.

De Vega, however, clarified that processing the departure of some of the Filipinos took longer because some were identified as undocumented.

“Sa Lebanon, we have 37 OFWs. We had arrival last Wednesday and we’re processing around 200 in Lebanon. And I think I explained this before – it takes a little longer in Lebanon kasi we are discovering na mayroong mga undocumented kaya it takes a bit of time doon sa tinatawag nilang general services iyong parang immigration authority nila doon,” he said.

De Vega assured that they are exhausting all means to for those Filipinos in Lebanon, who have voluntary chosen to be repatriated to be back in the Philippines safely.

He also disclosed that they have completed two repatriation missions in the West Bank, bringing home a total of 25 Filipinos. PND