Isko Moreno urges gov’t to create evacuation plan for OFWs in Taiwan

Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno on Tuesday urged the government to create an evacuation plan for Filipinos in Taiwan in case a situation similar to Ukraine happens.

“Ang dapat magawan natin ng plano, mapaghandaan natin ‘yung posibleng mangyari sa (An evacuation plan should be created for any eventuality in) Taiwan Strait,” Moreno said in an ambush interview.

A Reuters report stated that Taiwan is currently in a heightened state amid the situation in Ukraine over fears that China may take advantage of the situation

“Kasi mahirap ilikas kung saka-sakali. Hindi ko naman pinangungunahan ang panahon, pero walang masamang maging handa at makagawa na ng plano para sa ating 150,000 OFWs sa Taiwan,” he said.

(Let us expect that evacuation would be a challenge. There is nothing wrong with being prepared for the 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan.)

“Kapag may ganitong insidente katulad ng nangyari sa Ukraine, ang unang unang tatamaan 'yung airport at seaport,” he added.

(In a situation like what happened in Ukraine, airports and seaports are usually the first affected.)

Moreno said that even though the evacuation plan will not be used, what is important is for the government to be prepared.

“Anyway, this is an evacuation plan na pwede namang gamitin, pwede namang hindi. Pero buti nang handa dahil ang mahalaga sa akin 'yung kaligtasan ng mga OFW at Filipino sa Taiwan because napakalaking challenge 'yun,” he said.

(Anyway, this is an evacuation plan that may or may not be used. But it’s better to be prepared because what is important for me is the safety of the OFWs and Filipinos in Taiwan because that’s going to be a big challenge.)—AOL, GMA News