Gov’t Preparing to Repatriate Pinoy Workers, Peacekeepers from Ebola-hit Countries

The government is preparing for the imminent repatriation of Filipinos from three countries in West Africa struck by the deadly Ebola virus, a Palace official said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters that the government is establishing a protocol to repatriate an estimated 1,755 Filipino workers from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, as well as 145 Filipino peacekeepers in Liberia.

“The government is undertaking all necessary measures to protect the health and well-being of our nationals or citizens in keeping with the established protocols on managing the Ebola virus disease. This includes preparations for raising to level 3 the crisis alert level for the Ebola-affected countries in West Africa, effective mid-November 2014,” he said.

Secretary Coloma estimated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Sierra Leone at 1,044; in Guinea at 511; and in Liberia at 200, a total of 1,755.

There are also 145 Filipino peacekeepers in Liberia — 115 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 29 from the Philippine National Police, and 1 from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, he said.

Based on the records of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, most of the OFWs in the three countries are in the construction, mining and technical industries.

“Ang focus ng ating pamahalaan ay ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng ating mamamayan na nandoon mismo sa sentro ng epidemic. Kaya nga ang inatas sa mga concerned agencies ng pamahalaan ay paghandaan ang maayos, sistematiko at siyentipikong paglilikas sa ating mga mamamayan para mailayo sila sa panganib ng Ebola virus disease,” Coloma said.

He said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will eventually raise the crisis alert in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia to Level 3, which entails voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in the three countries.

“Ang punto ng lahat ng aking ginagawang paglalahad ngayon at pagpapaliwanag ay iisa lamang: na napakahalaga sa ating pamahalaan na magkaroon tayo ng matatag na depensa laban sa Ebola virus disease,” Coloma said. PND (ag)

Source: PCOO

Image Credit: rt.com