DFA eyes repatriation of 115 Filipinos in Sri Lanka before end of July

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Photo from their Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is contemplating repatriating around 115 Filipinos in Sri Lanka before the end of the month amid the economic crisis there.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said Wednesday that Filipinos are burdened in Sri Lanka, thus, seeking to return to the Philippines.

“Sa 700 na Pilipino doon, may lampas 100, 115 more or less ngayon, ang nagparinig na na gustong makauwi ng Pilipinas dahil mahirap ang buhay, ‘yung situation,” he said on TeleRadyo’s Sakto.

(Of the 700 Filipinos there, there are more than 100, 115 more or less, who signified their intent to return to the Philippines because of the difficult life and situation there.)

“Ang gusto namin bago matapos ang July may nakauwi na dapat,” he went on.

(We want them to return before the end of July.)

De Vega said that funding will be provided for Filipinos awaiting repatriation to buy their commercial flight tickets back to the Philippines.

Arranging a sweeper flight for repatriation would be difficult because of the situation in Sri Lanka, according to de Vega.

READ: 25 Filipinos in Sri Lanka seek repatriation amid economic crisis

“Ang gagawin na lang namin, kukuha kami ng funding para sa commercial na lang kasi may flight pa naman,” he said.

(What we will do is we will get funding for commercial flights.)

De Vega assured those awaiting repatriation that they will not become displaced workers in the Philippines as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has a reintegration program.

“Every time may nire-repatriate na Pilipino, meron silang napupuntahan right away. Minsan, right away galing airport, dinadala sila sa OWWA sa kanilang reintegration program,” the DFA official pointed out.

(Every time Filipinos are repatriated, there are jobs available for them. Sometimes, from the airport, they go directly to the OWWA for the reintegration program.)

In April, Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency due to its worst economic crisis.

The DFA has placed Sri Lanka under Alert Level 2 as economic woes persist in the South Asian country.

KGA