181 Pinoys already accounted for in Ukraine, DFA exec says

A total of 181 Filipinos have been accounted for in Ukraine amid the tension there brought by Russian attacks, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said Friday.

"We have accounted for 181 Filipinos, sila po 'yung nagparamdam sa ating embahada at nagsabi kung nasaan sila, ngayon nakauwi na po 'yung anim, kahapon po dapat apat 'yung aalis pero hindi po natuloy dahil nagsarado po lahat ng airports ng Ukraine," DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

(We have accounted for 181 Filipinos, they are the ones who contacted our embassy and informed us their whereabouts. Six are already back home while the travel of four individuals to the Philippines was postponed because all the airports in Ukraine shut down.)

"As of now there are 37 Filipinos on the road, on the way to Lviv actually eventually for repatriation," she added.

Arriola assured the public that the DFA is on top of the situation in Ukraine and ready to assist Filipinos amid the tension there. She said the imposition of mandatory repatriation for Filipinos would be determined by DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

"Doon po sa ating mga kababayan sa Ukraine, kailangan po talagang makipag-ugnayan kayo sa Philippine Embassy at honorary consulate para mabigyan po namin kayo ng tulong, tulong po either repatriation, care packages, or financial assistance during this time of need," she said.

(We are requesting Filipinos in Ukraine to contact the Philippine Embassy and the honorary consulate so that they could be assisted either with repatriation, care packages, or financial assistance.)

Russian missiles were launched on Ukrainian cities after President Vladimir Putin of Russia unleashed a full-scale ground invasion and air assault against the country.

Locsin traveled to the Ukrainian border to ensure the safety of Filipinos and oversee the government's efforts to relocate or repatriate them to the Philippines.

He earlier said Poland has agreed to allow Filipinos leaving Ukraine to enter the country without visas.

Approximately 380 Filipinos are living in Ukraine, most of whom are in the capital Kyiv, the DFA has said.

DOLE, OWWA assure assistance

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assured that they will provide assistance for the repatriated Filipinos.

Interviewed on GMA’s Balitanghali on Friday, OWWA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has instructed to provide transport and financial assistance to the repatriated Filipinos.

“Tayo naman sa DOLE at OWWA ay nakahanda in terms of transport, as well tutulong tayo sa DFA kung kinakailangan. Pagdating nila dito ang transport from Manila to wherever they live, halimbawa yung dumating noong Biyernes ng gabi tinulungan natin makauwi sa Tondo [at] sa Davao,” Cacdac said.

(The DOLE and OWWA are ready to provide transport and help the DFA if necessary. When they arrive here, they will be given transportation from Manila to wherever they live, for example, those who arrived last Friday night, we helped them get home in their respective places in Tondo and Davao.

At least six Filipinos in Ukraine arrived in the country on Friday. Four of the six returning Filipinos boarded their flights from Kyiv, while the other two took their flight from Lviv.

Cacdac said the repatriated Filipinos will also receive financial and livelihood assistance.

“So yung mga dumadating from Ukraine tutulungan natin makauwi sa kanilang mga bayan and aside from that may financial assistance, may livelihood and employment assistance kung mananatili na sila sa Pilipinas for good, at collegiate level school assistance sa kanilang mga collegiate level na anak,” he added.

(Those who come from Ukraine, we will transport them to their hometowns and aside from that there is financial assistance, livelihood and employment assistance if they stay in the Philippines for good, and collegiate level school assistance to their collegiate level children.)—AOL/LDF, GMA News