Photo credit: DMW

In response to the escalating violence fueled by gang activities in Haiti, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have announced plans to repatriate at least 63 Filipinos from the Caribbean nation.

The decision follows the approval by DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo of the recommendation to declare Alert Level 3, enabling voluntary repatriation for Filipinos in Haiti. Currently, there are 115 Filipinos in the country, with the government awaiting confirmation on whether the rest will opt for repatriation.

Given the absence of outgoing flights from Haiti and the discouragement of land travel to the capital, Port-au-Prince, authorities are exploring the chartering of a flight for the returning citizens.

Despite the ongoing security crisis, there have been no reports of Filipino nationals being affected or injured. However, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, under Ambassador Jose Manuel "Babes" Romualdez, along with local DMW-Migrant Workers' Office-OWWA, is working closely with Philippine Honorary Consul General in Haiti, Fitzgerald Oliver James Brandt, and Filipino community leader Bernadette Villagracia to facilitate the repatriation process.