MANILA, June 29 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine government said Tuesday that it would allow "a limited deployment" of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in safe locations in Iraq.

    Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a press briefing that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is willing to accept a limited deployment provided the areas where "our OFWs will be certified as safe."

    "We know that there are some areas where hostilities have takenplace. Definitely, this will be out of the deployment list or possible deployment destinations of our OFWs," he said.

    Bunye also said that the government has no plan yet to recall the Philippine humanitarian mission in Iraq. "As to specifics, we probably have to study the situation and find out what are the demands of the new government of Iraq."

    President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered in May the suspension of the deployment of OFWs in Iraq until the situation there returned to normal.

    Bunye could not identify the areas that are safe in Iraq but said that based on news reports, Mosul will definitely be off limits.

    He admitted that there was no guarantee that Filipino workers would be sent to safe areas once they left the country.

    "There's no hundred percent guarantee but we would like to advise our OFWs who are considering deployment in the area to coordinate with the Iraq team, the DOLE people and DFA (Departmentof Foreign Affairs) officials to make sure that the areas where they will be going to will be relatively safe," he said.

    President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed hope Tuesday that the handover of sovereignty to Iraq would lessen violence while stressing that the Philippine government would maintain its security and other commitments to that country.

    "The Philippine government will continue to support peace, security and humanitarian programs for the benefit of the Iraqi people, in adherence to the mandate of the United Nations," Arroyosaid in a written statement.

    Supporting Arroyo's remarks, Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said that there would be no changes in the government's policy until the president, in consultation with the DFA and the Iraq team, saw the need for it.

    The Philippines has a 51-member military and police contingent in Iraq. The interim Iraqi government has said it would need the help of foreign troops for some time to ensure security. Enditem