The first batch of 229 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and three infants evacuated from war-torn Lebanon got home safely in Manila and were welcomed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Sunday afternoon.

Saying they are the country's "new heroes", President Arroyo led an unprecedented homecoming ceremony for the 232 Filipinos, according to a report of Philippine News Agency.

The President shook hands with the evacuees before she led them to the exit, where was crowded with relatives of OFWs and senior government officials, the Agency said.

"I assure the nation we are doing everything in our power to the safety of those who need to remain in Lebanon, and those who wish to leave can be transported out in an orderly way," Arroyo was quoted as saying.

There are more Filipinos coming home scheduled to arrive on Monday and Tuesday, the President said, adding "we are working with international partners on how to restore peace in that troubled-land."

The Philippine government started evacuating Filipinos working in Lebanon following the outbreak of military conflicts between the Israeli army and Hezbollah militants.

The government on Saturday declared Alert Level 4 for its nationals in Lebanon, which means immediate evacuation for Filipinos.

A fund of 2 million U.S. dollars was released by the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration for the evacuation, for the first 2,000 workers to be repatriated from Lebanon, the government said earlier.

There are some 30,000 OFWs in Lebanon. But Foreign Affairs Under-secretary Esteban Cornejos said that only 2,000 of them will now have to be evacuated.

The OFWs throughout the world contributed nearly 11 billion U.S. dollars to the Philippines' foreign income in 2005.

Source: Xinhua