OWWA: PH gov’t ready for mass repatriation of Filipinos in Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen are seen at a position on the front line with Russia-backed separatists near the town of Schastia, near the eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk, on February 23, 2022. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is ready to conduct mass repatriation of Filipinos in Ukraine if tensions with Russia along its border escalate to an invasion, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assured on Thursday.

OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said the Philippine embassy in Ukraine, along with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) have arranged crisis management mechanisms and exit strategies for the 380 Filipinos there in case tensions intensify.

He said pick-up and exit points have been identified, as well as safe-havens. He also said Filipinos there are “well-informed of the crisis plans and crisis strategies in the event that war breaks out” and “pretty much in touch” with the Philippine embassy.

READ: ‘Major war in Europe’ could be started by Russia soon – Ukraine leader

The government is also ready to provide transportation via land and air for Filipinos, he added.

“The embassy stands ready and, of course, the DOLE through the OWWA and POLO stands ready as well in the event of mass repatriation, which we hope won’t happen,” Cacdac said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.

Aside from this, the embassy has been facilitating in-country relocation of the overseas Filipino workers in Ukraine away from Kyiv, the political capital in Ukraine, according to Cacdac.

So far, six Filipinos from Ukraine have returned to the Philippines while two more are expected to go home, Cacdac said.

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