MANILA, Philippines — Based on new developments in the Syrian central city of Homs, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario disclosed on Wednesday that the Philippine government may need to go one step further and resort to a strategy of extraction to ensure the safety and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.

For this, Del Rosario said in a statement issued Wednesday, that they will activate a rapid response team composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), and DFA personnel.

“So rather than reduce the operating teams, to help our distressed nationals, we are expanding to do what is necessary,” Del Rosario stressed.

He, however, said the DFA will begin bringing back non-essential persons, such as the families of the embassy staff.

“As in Libya, for as long as we have OFWs that need help, our embassy will continue to operate as mandated by President Benigno S. Aquino III,” assured the DFA chief. “We have no plans of closing.”

“From our visit to Damascus two weeks ago, we had anticipated a probable escalation of violence which resulted in our bringing in an additional team of negotiators to focus on mandatory repatriation,” he said.

According to the DFA, the Embassy in Damascus continues to assist thousands of Filipinos who are working in Syria, and ensure their safety and welfare there.

The embassy is working upon the instruction of Del Rosario to fully and effectively implement crisis alert level 4 (mandatory repatriation) due to security situation in that country.