The Department of Foreign Affairs noted that many Filipinos still prefer to stay in Ukraine despite the ongoing crisis in the country.
According to Sarah Arriola, the Foreign Affairs Undersecretary, it’s hard to uproot a migrant worker in other countries.
Some OFWs Choose To Stay In Ukraine To Provide For Their Families Amid Regional Crisis – DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has issued a voluntary repatriation order for Ukraine. However, Filipinos are still urged to avoid non-essential activities, Rappler reported.
According to Ariola, most Filipinos in Ukraine are household workers, teachers, and international organizations employees.
“Kahit saan pong parte ng mundo, ‘yung mga Pilipino talaga, hindi madali sa kanilang umuwi dahil sila po ‘yung inaasahan ng kanilang mga pamilya dito sa Pilipinas na magbibigay ng remittances,” Arriola said.
(Anywhere in the world, for some Filipinos, it is not easy for them to just go home because their families in the Philippines are depending on them to send remittances.)
“Our Filipinos, especially the ones who are working there, who have families there, have to weigh a lot of things before they decide to come home,” she added.
“Many of them don’t want to be separated from their family members too, and they like the quality of life in Ukraine.
“So rest assured we stand ready to be of assistance and give care packages to them,” Arriola said.
The DFA also said it is ready to help Filipinos who need assistance in Ukraine. On February 17, it sent a team to the city of Lviv to assist Filipinos on the ground.
Here is a news report shared by PTV via YouTube:
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