OFWs in Myanmar may now return home as DFA lowers crisis alert level status to 2

Larawan mula sa PNA

Manila, Philippines – Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Myanmar may now go home to the Philippines for a vacation without worrying about their jobs, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

This was after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has lowered the crisis alert level imposed in Myanmar from Alert Level 4 (evacuation) to Alert Level 2 (restricted phase).

They would also be allowed to go back to the said country to resume their overseas employment after properly registering with DMW.

However the DMW clarified in a statement that overseas employment applies only to those with existing employment contracts and not to the deployment of new hires to Myanmar.

The DFA and Philippine Embassy in Yangon’s assessment found that OFWs in Myanmar are concentrated in the major cities of Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay, where according to DMW “they enjoy safe and stable working conditions.”

“Our kababayans are likewise reminded to avoid crisis-prone regions in Myanmar as there is no guarantee that the Philippine or Myanmar authorities will be able to easily access these areas in order to render assistance in case of emergencies,” DMW Secretary Susan Ople said in a statement posted in the DMW FB Page on August 9.

Last month, the Philippine government announced the lowering of the alert level status it had imposed on Myanmar.

This allowed OFWs to go back to work in the country affected by the February 2021 military coup.

More than 400 Filipinos continue to work in Myanmar even after a military coup that deposed an elected civilian government years ago.