The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Monday (March 14) said the deployment ban imposed on Ukraine will not be lifted as long as Ukraine remains under Alert Level 4 amid the ongoing crisis with Russia.
In the Laging Handa briefing, POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said almost all land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Ukraine have been evacuated.
“Hangga’t may kaguluhan, mananatili po ang Alert Level 4 diyan. Kaya kung magtatagal po iyong kaguluhan diyan, magtatagal din po iyong ating alert at ganoon din po iyong deployment ban sa Ukraine,” he said.
“Ang tanging naiwan na lang doon ay iyong ayaw pong umalis na may mga kani-kanila nang pamilya, nakapag-asawa na po ng Ukrainian. Ang challenge po natin ngayon ay iyong ating mga seafarers, kasi mahigit 473 ho iyong affected seafarers,” he added.
Olalia said more than 100 seafarers have been sent home, 140 others are arriving, while around 200 are currently on board pending repatriation using humanitarian corridors.
Aside from repatriation efforts, the government is providing financial and livelihood assistance to OFWs from Ukraine amounting to USD200, together with educational assistance for their children. (PTV News)/AG
