Photo Release

Confirmation hearing of Ambassador Balatbat: Sen. Risa Hontiveros during the confirmation hearing of the Committee on Foreign Affairs- Commission on Appointments on the appointment of Raymond Balatbat as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Lebanese Republic, Wednesday, December 16, 2020, asks the status of the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Lebanon in this time of pandemic. Balatbat said the embassy has repatriated 3,500 OFWs and noted the many procedures being imposed upon by the Lebanese authority that makes repatriation difficult. “It’s really unfortunate that for example, the Convention on the Rights of Domestic Workers, while for example here in our country, already reflected in the Kasambahay Law, is not also already reflected in the labor laws in Lebanon. I hope that the good ambassador will work with our labor organizations and allow our labor organizations working with overseas Filipinos to work with him in pursuing that advocacy in your new posting,” Hontiveros said. Balatbat's appointment was later confirmed by the CA. (Screen grab/ Senate PRIB)