By Myris Lee
As Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured Tuesday that it is fully prepared to assist any Filipino based in the South Asian country.
DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said at the May 31 Laging Handa briefing that they are already coordinating with foreign service posts in Sri Lanka, as well as with Filipino community leaders there to continuously monitor the current economic crisis of the country.
“Wala naman tayong nabalitaan na nadamay sa kaguluhan. Ang ano lang talaga, mayroon talagang … nahihirapan talaga sila financially dahil doon sa inflation na nangyayari din sa bansa. Nag-reach out na rin iyong iba sa embahada,” she said.
She added that they will be sending a rapid response team to Sri Lanka to facilitate the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and for the provision of financial aid to about 492 Filipinos.
“We stand ready naman to bring them home. In fact, magpapadala po talaga tayo ng rapid response team para po may presence talaga ang DFA sa Sri Lanka ngayong mayroon pong ganitong economic crisis,” she said.
As Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured Tuesday that it is fully prepared to assist any Filipino based in the South Asian country.
DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said at the May 31 Laging Handa briefing that they are already coordinating with foreign service posts in Sri Lanka, as well as with Filipino community leaders there to continuously monitor the current economic crisis of the country.
“Wala naman tayong nabalitaan na nadamay sa kaguluhan. Ang ano lang talaga, mayroon talagang … nahihirapan talaga sila financially dahil doon sa inflation na nangyayari din sa bansa. Nag-reach out na rin iyong iba sa embahada,” she said.
She added that they will be sending a rapid response team to Sri Lanka to facilitate the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and for the provision of financial aid to about 492 Filipinos.
“We stand ready naman to bring them home. In fact, magpapadala po talaga tayo ng rapid response team para po may presence talaga ang DFA sa Sri Lanka ngayong mayroon pong ganitong economic crisis,” she said.
1/4 ‼️‼️ON SITUATION IN SRI LANKA‼️
The DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka & the Phil Consulate in Colombo, continues to monitor the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka. DFA is closely coordinating with Filipino community leaders on the situation on the ground.— Sarah Lou Ysmael Arriola (@slyarriola) May 29, 2022
OFWs in Sri Lanka are encouraged to get in touch with either the embassy in Dhaka or the Honorary Consulate in Colombo for repatriation.
OFWs in Sri Lanka are encouraged to get in touch with either the embassy in Dhaka or the Honorary Consulate in Colombo for repatriation.-Ag
