DOLE Secretary Arturo D. Brion decided to “hold further action on Department Order No. 86-07 in light of expressed concerns on the security/peace and order situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Nigeria.

Under this situation, the complete ban on Iraq, Lebanon and Nigeria remains. While we previously allowed the deployment of new hires and returning workers to international organizations in Afghanistan, the DFA will not issue any ‘no objection’ certificate for Afghanistan, hence there is also an effective complete ban.”