THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomed the arrival of 13 distressed Filipinos from Sri Lanka who returned to the Philippines on 30 July 2022. The repatriates, composed of six females, two males, and five minors, are part of the 114 Filipinos who have signified their intent to return to the Philippines because of the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, together with the Philippine Embassy in Bangladesh (which has jurisdiction over Sri Lanka) and the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Colombo, has been steadfast in monitoring the situation and alleviating the concerns of Filipinos in Sri Lanka. The distribution of financial assistance is currently underway.
“The DFA continues to assist all distressed Filipinos overseas, including undocumented contract workers. We are coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other concerned agencies during this transition period, as the DMW sets up its Migrant Workers Offices abroad,” said Foreign Affairs Acting Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. de Vega.
“The DFA shall always stand ready to assist in repatriating distressed Filipinos, true to our mandate of being guardians of the welfare of our overseas kababayan,” he added.
The 13 Filipinos, whose return tickets were funded by the DFA, arrived aboard a commercial flight from Colombo. They comprise the 1st batch of returnees from Sri Lanka, with more expected to arrive in the next few days and weeks. The DFA plans to complete the repatriation of 114 Filipinos by the second week of August, should there be no complications.
