BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and GERARD NAVAL
GOVERNMENT is prepared for any eventuality as it continues to hope for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said yesterday.
“We hope that all parties will explore all avenues, sana po ay makapaghanap po tayong lahat ‘no dito sa buong mundo, makapaghanap po nang mabuting avenues para matagumpay nating marating ang kapayapaan (We hope that all parties will explore all avenues, we hope that we can find, all of us in the world, can find right avenues to successfully reached peace),” he said.
Repatriation efforts for 380 Filipinos in Ukraine are ongoing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, deepening Western fears of a new war in Europe. Putin ordered Russian troops to perform “peacekeeping functions” in the two regions.
Hans Leo Cacdac, administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), said the agency is ready to repatriate Filipino workers in Ukraine.
“We already have a crisis manual on repatriation. This is not the first time that we will have an effort like this,” said Cacdac.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment always join forces on how we can manage the repatriation of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in Ukraine. So we will be ready, we stand ready,” he added.
Cacdac said the government has identified specific assembly areas, and exit points for OFWs during crisis situations.
“We just wish to assure that the Philippine government stands ready. We are ready in case violence breaks out and repatriation becomes necessary,” said the labor official.
For the moment, he said the government is engaged in in-country relocation of OFWs based in identified danger zones.
“There are OFWs, in three batches, that have been taken out of the areas that are around 300 kilometers from Kyiv. We have an ongoing in-country relocation,” said Cacdac.
Asked about a preemptive repatriation, Cacdac said, “The embassy in Warsaw is still doing evaluation. Then, upon recommendation of the DFA, the POEA board will take action. Those two essential steps, we are still awaiting. We just have to trust the security and political assessment of our embassy in Warsaw.” He also noted that only a handful of OFWs have expressed interest in leaving their jobs.
“There are only a few willing to return home. Only two have availed of the free tickets. Ukraine is one job market that offer stable jobs. So they are really unsure of wanting to come home,” said Cacdac.
