DFA: 28 Filipinos expected to evacuate from Ukraine this week

People gather to take a bus as refugees from many different countries. mostly students of Ukrainian universities are seen at the Medyka pedestrian border crossing fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, in eastern Poland on February 27, 2022. (Photo by Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Some 28 Filipinos in Ukraine are expected to evacuate from the strife-stricken eastern European country this week amid the aid assault launched by Russia, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said this is on top of the 13 Filipinos who have so far been evacuated from Ukraine to Poland. Of the 28 more expected to be moved, 10 will be coming from Lviv.

“Medyo panaka naka pa rin ang pagpunta ng ating mga kababayan. Inaasahan natin this week ay 28 na Filipino na nasa iba’t ibang lugar manggagaling,” he said in an interview over ABS CBN’s TeleRadyo.

(The arrival of our countrymen are still in small batches. We are expecting 28 Filipinos this week.)

Dulay said the number of Filipinos evacuating is “fluctuating” since there are Filipinos, who initially expressed intentions to evacuate, that have yet to go to the borders.

He said Filipinos can go to the different borders of countries surrounding Ukraine and the Philippine government are readily stationed in different borders to assist and accommodate them.

This is as the surrounding countries have allowed Filipinos to enter their borders even without visas, as appealed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

“Kinausap ni Secretary Locsin ang mga foreign ministers ng mga karatig-bansa na nangangailangan ng EU visa para makapasok at pumayag na sila lahat tanggapin ang ating mga kababayan sa kanilang mga borders kahit walang visa,” he said.

(Secretary Locsin has asked foreign ministers to allow Filipinos, even those without visas, to enter their countries and they have allowed it.)

“With that, ‘yung ating mga kababayan ay ready to enter any of the borders surrounding Ukraine,” Dulay added.

(Our countrymen can readily enter any of the borders surrounding Ukraine.)

EDV