Philippines lifts ban on travel to three countries, later defers decision

21 November 2007

The Philippines has partially lifted the ban on travel to three troubled countries – Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Nigeria.

The decision apparently is in view of the easing of tensions in the three counties and the government deciding that it is safe enough to allow Filipinos to travel to these countries to take up jobs.

According to reports, Philippines’ Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo Brion said, in a written order, that the lifting of the travel ban to Afghanistan would allow Filipinos to work once more for sub-contractors employed by the US and coalition forces, the Red Cross, UN and other similar aid agencies.

Similarly, domestic workers from the Philippines who had previously worked in Lebanon and left the country during the violent fighting in July 2006 may now return to Lebanon, media reports quoted Arturo Brion as saying.

Those Filipinos who want to work in oil companies in Nigeria’s Delta region, where local gunmen had abducted foreign workers, including Filipinos, could now apply again for such jobs as the Philippines government is now allowing them to go to the African state.

In the past many years, a number of Filipino workers have been abducted in the oil-rich Delta region of Nigeria and later freed, reportedly upon payment of ransom. A Filipino woman was found killed and her body was thrown into a well in Afghanistan earlier in 2007, according to media reports in the Philippines.

The government of the Philippines had imposed a ban on travel to Nigeria after 26 Filipinos were abducted by gunmen in January 2007. All the captives were released unharmed after having been detained for about a month.

Nigeria is the leading oil exporter in the African continent, with the country producing about 2.5 million barrels of oil daily.

Philippines’ Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo Brion, however, said the travel ban to the strife-torn Iraq would stay as “the present conditions there remain volatile and dangerous” over attacks on coalition forces by local militants.

Manila had imposed the travel ban to Iraq after two truck drivers from the Philippines were abducted by Iraqi gunmen in 2004 and 2005. The two were freed later.

Meanwhile, a website later reported that the implementation of the order of the Department of Labor and Employment lifting ban on travel to Nigeria, Lebanon, and Afghanistan has been deferred following security concerns.

“We are holding action on that order that has not yet been published. It will not take immediate effect after security concerns were expressed by various sectors,” the website quoted Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo Brion as saying.

Brion also reportedly said that travel to countries on the restricted list required a ‘no objection certification’ from the Department of Foreign Affairs.