Pursuant to the letter advice of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs dated 23 February 1998 and, in view of diplomatic initiatives seeking a peaceful resolution of the tense situation in Iraq, the temporary suspension of deployment of overseas Filipino workers shall remain in force only for the following countries:

1.  Iraq
2.  Kuwait
3.  Israel

Such suspension shall cover newly-hired landbased workers, whether name hires, government hires or agency hires. Deployment of all returning workers or balik-manggagawa and seafarers are not covered by this suspension.

Contingency plans shall be required in the processing of workers bound for other Middle East countries.

This Order supersedes all previous issuances inconsistent herewith.

For strict compliance until further notice.

Adopted: 23 Feb. 1998

(SGD.) CRESENCIANO B. TRAJANO
Secretary

---

^[*] Also filed by DOLE on 02 April 1998.