Despite urging and pressure of different groups calling for the lifting of deployment ban of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to selected countries; the Philippine government stands firm in its decision to keep the deployment ban in the following countries: Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Nigeria.

The decision not to lift the ban was made by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after a meting with the Ambassadors of the counties mentioned. The situation of the countries as well as the safety of Filipino workers there was discussed in the meeting. An assessment of the situation of the five countries was prepared by special Philippine envoy to the Middle East, Ambassador Roy Cimatu, as instructed by the President.

President Arroyo emphasized that the deployment was not lifted even if the said counties would have provided thousands of jobs to OFWs because the government cannot risk the safety of OFWs.

The state of affairs in Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Nigeria would again be discussed and reviewed in March 2009 along with the report of Cimatu.

A Philippine embassy in Damascus, Syria is also set to be open in February 2009. The embassy to be handled by Ambassador Wilfredo Cuyugan will be of service to 15,000 OFWs there.