Headline
Foreign affairs dept lowers alert level for Libya from 4 to 2
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) facade (Facebook photo)
MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay Jr. approved last Sept. 2 the lowering of the Crisis Alert Level for Libya from 4 (Mandatory Repatriation/Evacuation) to 2 (Restriction Phase).
The alert level was lowered following the recommendation of a Security Assessment Team (SAT) which found that a downgrade was warranted to conform to the prevailing security situation there. The SAT was deployed to Tripoli, Libya on August 9-13.
Alert Level 2 is issued if there are threats to the life, security and property of Filipinos arising from internal disturbances, instability, and/or external threat.
Under this alert level, Filipinos are instructed to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, and prepare for evacuation. While new labor deployment is still prohibited, overseas Filipinos with valid and existing contracts are guaranteed that they will be allowed to return to Libya if they so desire.
As of Aug. 7, a total of 5,775 overseas Filipinos have been repatriated to the Philippines since May 2014.
Javed Zia
September 26, 2016 at 12:01 PM
A very pragmatic decision by MOFA Philippines. Reflects deep and realistic understanding of Libyan dynamics. All credit to Security Assessment Team headed by a patriotic and bold lady who visited Libya in second week of August 2016 and had painstakingly visited embassies (including Pakistan Embassy) and met a cross section of diplomats before finalising her recommendations. Credit also to External Affairs Ministry of Philippines for honouring recommendations which in the long run shall be yielding huge benefits with regards to interests of Philippines related to Libya in particular and Africa in general.
( Comments by a former Ambassador at Libya)