04 April 2012 – While most Filipinos are taking a break in observance of Holy Week, the Philippine Embassy in Damascus, led by Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. Olivia V. Palala, continues its repatriation efforts in strife-torn Syria.
Another batch of six OFWs will arrive in Manila on April 05, Maundy Thursday, and five more on April 06, Good Friday, on board the following flights:
| Airline | Flight No. | Date | ETA | No. of OFWs |
| Emirates Airlines | flight 334 | 05 April | 1555H | 1 |
| Emirates Airlines | flight 332 | 05 April | 2155H | 5 |
| Emirates Airlines | flight 332 | 06 April | 2155H | 5 |
This brings the total number of repatriates to 1,221.
“The Philippine Embassy in Damascus will bring as many Filipinos as possible out of harm’s way without any delay even during Holy Week,” Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Raul Hernandez said.
The security situation has seriously deteriorated since the Syrian uprising began in January last year prompting the Philippine Government to raise alert level 4 which calls for the mandatory repatriation of all Filipinos from the country.
The Philippine Government is exerting all efforts to bring Filipinos out of Syria particularly those in the violence-ridden governorates of Homs, Idlib, Hama, and Dara’a.
The public are likewise being urged to assist the DFA in its repatriation efforts by providing information on the whereabouts of their loved ones in Syria as well as their latest contact details.
Interested parties may call the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) at (02) 834-3245 or (02) 834-3240. END