NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 141 Filipinos remain in war-torn Ukraine seven days after Russia’s invasion.

45 of them are in Kyiv, 55 are near the Hungarian border, and the rest are scattered throughout Ukraine. There are also at least 87 seamen onboard ships anchored near the nation.

Many Filipinos are still unwilling to return home, according to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola, with some refusing to leave their Ukrainian families while others choosing to stay with their employers.

She did say, though, that the Philippines would continue to watch them ensure their safety and provide assistance, including evacuation help, if needed.

“We’re keeping an eye on them because we want to know how they’re doing. We don’t know if it’ll be okay ngayon baka bukas magputukan na sa kanila (if there will be shelling in their locations by tomorrow), because the situation is fluid “she remarked in an interview with DZMM

Around 40 Filipinos have safely crossed the Polish border since Russia launched a huge military assault against Ukraine on February 24. At least 27 Filipinos have requested asylum in Moldova, nine in Austria, and four in Romania, according to reports.

According to the DFA, 21 of the 27 people in Moldova are crew members of the MV S-Breeze, who were rescued by Philippine Honorary Consul Victor Gaina between February 27 and March 1.

Gaina brought a bus to Odessa last Sunday to evacuate Filipino sailors in Chornomosk, but just eight of them returned to Moldova’s capital, Chisinau.

Fearing accountability and legal action from the shipowner for abandoning the vessel, the 13 seafarers, including the master, chose to stay but were eventually repatriated the next day.

Gaina had to scurry for transportation, according to the DFA, because there was reported greater violence in the vicinity, which no conveyance wanted to risk.

It claimed, “Last night, about 2300H (Philippine standard time), Honorary Consul Gaina reported the successful extraction of the last 13 Filipino sailors.”

Since January 27, 2022, the M/V S-Breeze, a bulk carrier, has been in drydock at the Ilyichevsk Ship Yard in Port of Odessa, Ukraine, for repairs.

According to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy in Budapest and the Philippine Consulate in Chisinau will make every effort to repatriate them as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, ten more people are likely to flee Lviv for Poland.

19 Filipinos have been repatriated from Ukraine as of March 2, with 13 of them arriving yesterday night from Poland on an Emirates Airlines flight.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) informed 13 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who arrived from Ukraine that they would be helped.

“We will support returned OFWs with financial and livelihood assistance. In a tweet, OWWA chief Hans Leo Cacdac remarked, “Welcome home, countrymen.”

Cacdac has stated that one of the types of help to be provided is a livelihood package for workers who want to start a small business in the country.

“Last night, the DFA-DOLE-OWWA (Department of Foreign Affairs-Department of Labor and Employment) supported the arrival of 13 returning Filipinos from Ukraine. “SFA (Secretary of Foreign Affairs) @teddyboylocsin and Team @DFAPHL are supported by Sec. (Silvestre) Bello and Team DOLE-OWWA,” he said.

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