There are still overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who needs to be rescued and repatriated from strife-torn Syria and their families here in the Philippines are worried about their condition. To give assistance to affected Filipinos in Syria and to ease the worries of their families back home, the Blas Ople Policy Center opened hotline numbers for them.

This move by the non-governmental organization (NGO) is an alternative to the hotline numbers of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) which may sometimes be difficult to get through.

The press statement released by the Ople Center said, "In case families of OFWs remaining in Syria find it difficult to get through the DFA's hotlines, they can also call the Ople Center through its hotline: 833-5337 or send an SMS to +639158435498 to pass on information and messages that can result in the rescue and repatriation of their loved ones."

The OFWs and their families can also seek assistance from them by sending an email to blasoplecenter@gmail.com or posting information on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/blasoplepolicycenter.

The concerns of the OFWs will immediately be forwarded by the Ople Center to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy in Damascus and the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (OWWA).

The head of Ople Center, Ms. Susan Ople asked the help of local government and emphasized the need to spread the information to Filipinos in Syria so the rapid response team of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus can immediately take action.

She said, "It is important for all stakeholders to help the government help our OFWs in Syria in a calm, sober manner. Priority should be given to the smooth flow of information between OFW families, the OFWs there, and our embassy personnel as well as the DFA and DOLE. Such information should include the hotlines that these families could call, as well as updates coming from our own embassy in Syria as confirmed by the DFA and DoLE."

Ople also calls for prayers for the thousands of Filipinos still in Syria . She informed that the US forces in Syria are armed and ready with four warships that are loaded with US missiles and the Syrian government made it known that they they will strike back.

She said, "We call on everyone to include our embassy personnel and thousands of OFWs still in Syria in their prayers."