KABAYAN Party-list Rep. Ron P. Salo, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, expressed his deep concern on the safety of overseas Filipinos currently in Sudan as the ongoing conflict in the country intensifies.
“The safety and well-being of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remain our government’s top priority, and we must do everything we can to ensure their safe and swift repatriation back home,” Salo said.
“The civil war in Sudan has caused untold suffering and uncertainty for our fellow Filipinos working in the country, and we must act with urgency to bring them back to the Philippines,” he continued.
On Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) held a briefing on the situation and repatriation efforts for overseas Filipinos in Sudan due to the ongoing civil war in the country.
According to the DFA, there are 750 registered Filipinos in Sudan, and as of 26 April 2023, 456 Filipinos have already evacuated Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, to a safer place for their eventual repatriation. There may be more requests for repatriation in the next few days.
The DFA has informed the committee that the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt led by Ambassador Ezzedin Tago is coordinating the repatriation efforts, and that arrangements are being made to ensure the safe and immediate return of the OFWs.
“I commend the efforts of our government agencies and embassy personnel for their swift action in responding to this crisis. We must continue to work together to ensure the successful and timely repatriation of our fellow Filipinos in Sudan. I especially commend Ambassador Tago for his unwavering efforts in leading the repatration despite the accident he encountered, in which we are thankful that he is safe,” Salo remarked.
“We greatly appreciate the DFA’s proactive engagement with the Congress and Senate regarding this emergency. We are ready to help in any way we can,” Salo said.
“The Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs will continue to closely monitor the situation in Sudan and provide support to the repatriation efforts,” Salo assured.
“We owe it to our overseas Filipinos to ensure their safety and well-being, especially during times of crisis. We assure their families that their welfare is being taken care of by our government,” Salo concluded.
