THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday raised Crisis Alert Level 2 in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, which has previously been spared in the growing security concerns in the Middle East country.
In a statement, the DFA said the Restriction Phase is already being raised in the region in view of the increasing security threats in and around Kurdistan.
"Filipinos in Kurdistan are instructed to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, and take extra precaution," said the DFA.
With the raising of the alert level from Crisis Alert Level 1, a deployment ban in the Iraqi Kurdistan region is also being implemented for newly hired overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The DFA assured that the Philippine government will continue to closely monitor the political and security developments in Iraq.
Last week, the DFA had already raised Crisis Alert Level 4 in the entire Iraq, except the Kurdistan Region.
Under Crisis Alert Level 4, the Philippine government will be implementing a mandatory evacuation program at no expense to Filipino nationals.
All Filipino nationals in Iraq are told to immediately contact the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad. (HDT/Sunnex)