MANILA, Philippines — For many Filipinos in Syria, the situation in that strife-torn country is not as serious as their relatives back home perceive it to be.
“The protests happen only in the streets where there are rallies,” said Sheila Kilay, one of 12 domestic helpers who arrived in Manila from Syria last Thursday.
“The shootings are confined only in Duma and Adra (cities where Syrian government forces have clashed with protesters),” Kilay said. “You’re safe if you’re indoors and you don’t venture out when there is a rally.”
Kilay’s group was the first batch of Filipinos to be repatriated from Syria. They arrive on an Emirates Airways flight via Dubai.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Carmelita Dimzon explained that the group “repatriated, not evacuated.”
“The situation in Syria is still in Level 3, which does not require us to evacuate our countrymen in Syria,” Dimson said.
“We went home because our contracts had expired and we haven’t been issued a new ikama (work permit),” Kilay said.
She said she was willing to go back to Syria once the government allows the deployment of workers again. “My employer assured me he will issue me an ikama if I wanted to return,” Kilay said.
The workers will stay at the OWWA Center in Pasay City where they will be debriefed and undergo the government’s re-integration program.
Returning migrant workers can undergo free training on livelihood programs and take out a P10,000 business loan.
Source Manila Bulletin
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