Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER file photo.
The Philippine government said on Saturday that it has protocols in place should there be a need for Filipinos to be evacuated in South Korea amid tensions there.
“We have a good protocol in South Korea in as far as the evacuation and the information network of our OFWs there are concerned because we have Filipino groups in South Korea. Nandiyan ‘yung mga Filipino teachers natin, ‘yung mga Filipino professors natin; nandiyan ‘yung mga religious groups natin in South Korea and they are very actively in touch with our embassy,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told state-run DZRB.
In 2011, she said there was a similar exchange of fires in the Korean peninsula.
“Na-activate naman po natin agad ‘yung ating evacuation protocols for our OFWs. Thankfully at that time, it did not need to be executed, it was… It served as practice also on our part. Kumbaga, talagang nakita natin ‘yung weaknesses at nagawan po natin ng paraan at in place na po ‘yan. So it is just a matter of activating the protocol,” she explained.
Despite the escalating tensions, Valte said they are also not issuing a travel advisory but the Philippine embassy there is on alert for developments.
“As the DFA said, we are closely monitoring these developments even as we continue to call for restraint on both sides,” she said.
She also advised the Filipinos in South Korea to follow the reminders of the embassy and coordinate with them.
“So our first advice to them would be to follow the information that is disseminated to you by the embassy and to strictly adhere to these reminders because these reminders are also for our safety,” Valte said. TVJ
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