MORE than 100 Filipinos in Sri Lanka have expressed intention to return to the Philippines amid the economic crisis in the South Asian country, Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Wednesday.
In a radio interview de Vega said “Sa 700 na Pilipino doon, may lagpas 100, mga 115 more or less ngayon, ang nagparinig na na gustong umuwi ng Pilipinas dahil mahirap ang buhay, kaya ginagawan natin ng paraan ngayon.”
De Vega, who is the undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, said the Philippine government will shoulder the airfare for the commercial flights of the Filipinos who will be repatriated.
Filipinos may bring their children who were born in Sri Lanka with them, but their Sri Lankan spouses are not covered by the repatriation program, he added.
According to De Vega, concerned Pinoys might be able to return home by the end of July.
“Ang gusto namin bago matapos ang July may nakauwi na [We want repatration to start before July ends],” he said.
Repatriated Filipinos will undergo reintegration program and receive assistance from the government, De Vega said.
metrosundaily
