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08 September 2011
. In view of the raising of alert level 3 (voluntary repatriation) for the entire Syria due to the security situation in the country and upon the instruction of President Benigno S. Aquino III for the full and effective implementation of the alert level, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has implemented additional measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos there.
?Filipinos in Syria are enjoined to go home, and if they so decide, government will provide all necessary assistance. Since the declaration of alert level 3 on August 16, there are 562 Filipinos who have signified their intention to be repatriated to the Philippines.
?The DFA has organized the Task Group on Voluntary Repatriation-Syria. Relatives of Filipinos in Syria living in the Philippines may call the following numbers:
? From 8 AM to 8 PM (Monday to Sunday): (632) 8344617, (632) 8344619 (632) 834 4620, (632) 834 4621, (632) 834 4622, (632)834 4623, (632) 834 4624, (632) 834 3245 and (632) 834 3240.
? From 8 PM to 8 AM (Monday to Sunday): (632) 834 3333 and (632)834 4997.
? Text messages may also be sent to (63)9275768621 or
(63) 9155845546.
?Queries and request for assistance may also be sent via email at dfa.repat@gmail.com or pe.demascus@gmail.com
?Filipinos in Syria may call the Philippine Embassy in Damascus at the dedicated hotline numbers +96311-6132626 (landline), and +96393-2176214 and +96399-0270464 (mobile) to seek assistance and
information from the Embassy.
?The Overseas Preparedness and Response Team, headed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., will deploy a 10-member Rapid Response Team (RRT) for Syria as augmentation personnel to the Embassy in its efforts to repatriate Filipinos in the country. The team is composed of officials from the DFA, the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). They would have left for Syria on September 6.