THE Philippine government is partially lifting the ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Iraq and Afghanistan, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz announced on Tuesday.

Baldoz, who is also the chairman of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board, said that the Board in a meeting last week, had issued a resolution partially lifting the ban upon the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Under the POEA Board Resolution No. 05 Series of 2011, the POEA now allows those with existing contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan and working inside American military camps and facilities to finish their contracts. These contracts can also be extended or renewed onsite. Should these OFWs go home to the Philippines before its expiration, they shall also be allowed to be redeployed to finish their contracts.

“The Board has already directed the POEA to issue an advisory for the information and guidance of all concerned on the matter,” Baldoz said.

It can be recalled that the POEA Governing Board, under Resolution No. 8 Series of 2007, had suspended the processing and deployment of all workers bound for Iraq and Afghanistan because of the unstable peace and order situation in the said countries.