The alert level 4 placed in the whole of Iraq for overseas Filipinos has been downgraded to level 3 following improvements in the foreign land's security situation, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday, Nov. 2.
From alert level 4, which orders mandatory repatriation for Filipino nationals in Iraq, it was lowered to alert level 3 which entails only voluntary repatriation.
According to the Foreign Affairs department, the development was "due to some improvements in the security situation in the country and as requested by the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Iraq."
The lowering of alert level will also allow returning OFWs to be deployed in Iraq anew.
"Following this development and upon the recommendation of the DFA, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board has issued governing board resolution (GBR) No. 9 series of 2021, exempting returning OFWs to Iraq from the deployment ban, subject to specific conditions listed in the said resolution," the department said.
Filipinos in Iraq are, however, enjoined to continue to exercise caution, restrict movements only to necessary matters, and keep their communication lines open with the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, which may be reached through +9647506561740, +9647516167838, and +9647508105240, or [email protected].