Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Iraq and Kuwait welcomed on Tuesday the decision of the Philippine government to lift the deployment ban of OFWs to Iraq. The Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) in Manila has announced the lifting of the ban after the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board signed a resolution approving the lifting of the ban.

Rosalie Patahog, one of the OFWs who works inErbil,Iraqfor a security company in the oil sector expressed happiness on the lifting of the ban. She has been inIraqfor six years now.

“They have been requesting for a lot of Filipino workers because they have seen how hardworking the Filipino workers are. With the lifting of the ban, I can finally go home for a vacation and be with my family in thePhilippinesafter six years,” she disclosed to the Arab Times on the phone. She cited that there are a lot of companies inIraqthat give good salary and benefits. She stressed thatIraqespecially theKurdistanregion has been relatively peaceful.

There are over 600 Filipinos in Kurdistan and over 200 Filipinos inBaghdadandBasra, and for them, the lifting of the ban just came at the right time.

“The Kurdish are very hospitable. They really appreciate us for coming here, helping them out in making their country grow. I hope we’ll be able to go back home safely with no fear that people will stop us from coming back here. A lot of opportunities await Filipino workers in Kurdistan,” pointed out Marisna Almonte who has been working as an Administration and Accounting Manager for a multinational construction company inKurdistansince 2009.


“This is an answered prayer for all of us who have been wanting go home and be with our family. With the lifting of the ban, our entry to and movement inIraqis now made easier,” stated Vic Ramos, a Senior Manager of an international telecommunication company inKurdistan.

Aside from the employment opportunities, the lifting of theIraqban also opens a new door of opportunity to boost tourism betweenIraqand thePhilippinesas there are a lot of locals who would want to visit thePhilippines.



Soran Ali