MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday announced it has lowered the alert level for the whole of Iraq amid improving security situation in the said country.

In a statement, the DFA said the alert level for Iraq has been downgraded from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 due to some improvements in the security situation in the country and as requested by the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Iraq.

Alert Level 4 means mandatory repatriation while Alert Level 3 means voluntary repatriation.

“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 DFA said.

The department reminded Filipinos in Iraq to continue to exercise caution, restrict movements only to those that are necessary, and keep their communication lines open with the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad.

The embassy may be reached through +9647506561740, +9647516167838, and +9647508105240, or baghdad.pe@dfa.gov.ph.

At least eight people were killed during another protest against the military coup in Myanmar, a news agency reported.

Myanmar Now, an independent news service, reported that the junta’s security forces shot and killed at least eight people during some protests on Sunday (May 2).

Communities in Myanmar launched coordinated demonstrations which organizers called “the global Myanmar spring revolution.”

The armed forces of the military have arrested and fired rubber bullets, live ammunition, and grenades at civilians in order to stop the said protests.

One person was killed and at least 20 were injured in the jade-rich town of Hpakant, Kachin State. Three people were killed in the central town of Wetlet.  Meanwhile, two were killed in different towns in Shan State.

It was three months since the military took over the authority from the elected government. Thousands of residents have already been displaced and thousands were killed, according to an estimate of the United Nations. -AAC

The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad has launched an ID program for Filipinos in the Gulf country as part of its advocacy to document all Filipino nationals there.

This project will provide a sense of security and an alternate mode of identification among overseas Filipinos especially in critical situations where some employers opt to confiscate passports under the Kafala system.

The new measure is in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs (OUCSCA).

All Filipinos in Iraq are encouraged to register for an ID at shorturl.at/nMoS1 or send an email to baghdad.pe@dfa.gov.ph for other queries.

Khafala system is an employment policy among Gulf States which requires sponsorship from a national in order for migrant workers to be employed and be allowed to reside in the country.

The sponsor can be either an individual or a company is given substantial control over the worker which most of the time they confiscate the worker’s passports and other travel documents, or their cellular phones.