After reports of violent protests and demonstrations in Bahrain, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is hoping that the security situation will improve soon. The government agency is closely monitoring the situation and hoping that things would return to normal quickly.
The Secretary of DFA, Albert del Rosario said, “We’re also keeping a close watch there and hopefully the situation will improve and can be restored to normalcy.”
The clashes recently claimed the life of a teenager fromBahrainwho was hit in the head by a tear gas canister.Australia and Britain already issued an advisory for their nationals in Bahrain to avoid public places and exercise caution.
However, Roberto Carrillo, a Filipino writer for the Bahrain Daily Tribune, said that Filipinos in Bahrain are not so worried about the security situation there.
Carrillo said, “Hindi naman nababahala ang mga Filipino kasi for one thing the Philippine Embassy is very active na mag-inform sa mga Pilipino kung saan ang mangyayaring riot, kaguluhan, mga rally, ganyan. So, for us, parang normal na siya. Nasanay na kami kung ano ang mangyayari.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced on its official website that the processing and deployment of Filipino workers bound to Bahrain is now allowed.
This is due to the announcement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the security classification in Bahrain was reduced from alert level 2 to alert level 1.
The Philippine government decided to once again suspend the processing and deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Bahrain because of the current political conflict and unrest.
The secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Rosalinda Baldoz releases a memorandum that is asking the administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Carlos Cao Jr. to “immediately effect the deferment in the processing and deployment of all newly hired workers to Bahrain.”
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According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the political tension in Bahrain had stabilized so it is a safe employment destination for OFWs.
This is good news as there are many opportunities for OFWs in Bahrain. According to POEA, there are about 1,000 available job openings for OFWs there. While the deployment of OFWs in Bahrain is now allowed, the ban in Yemen and Libya is still in effect.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) wants to help the families and friends of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that are based in New Zealand and other Middle Eastern countries such as Libya, Yemen and Bahrain communicate with their loved ones. Many are concerned about the situation of OFWs in the Middle East countries due to the ongoing violent protests and the recent earthquake in Christchurch , New Zealand.
That is why the NTC has partnered with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Pasay City (OWWA) and set up a “Libreng Tawag” booth at the main office of the said government agency in Pasay City.
The free calls will be available for the relatives of affected OFWs from: from March 1-8, 2011 (9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.).
The free calls initiative is in cooperation with local telcos Globe Telecom, Di— Newsbytes.phgitel Phils. (Sun Cellular), and Smart Communications.
After reports of violent protests and demonstrations in Bahrain, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is hoping that the security situation will improve soon. The government agency is closely monitoring the situation and hoping that things would return to normal quickly.