By Pearl Gumapos
Austria Chargé d’ Affairs for the Philippines Deena Joy Amatong has reassured the Filipino community in Austria that the Philippine embassy in Vienna will remain open for any questions of Filipinos in need amid the rising cases and threat of the Omicron variant in the country.
“Huwag pong mag-alala. Huwag po kayong mabahala. Ang Philippine embassy dito sa Vienna, lalo na ang aming consular section, ay patuloy po na bukas at patuloy naming puwedeng tugunan ang inyong mga katanungan,” Amatong said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday (Dec. 2).
Amatong reported that the Filipino community in Austria is doing okay and that the Philippine embassy continues to look after their well-being and general welfare.
“Ngayon naman po sa kalagayan ng ating Filipino community dito sa Austria, kami po ay palagi nakikipagpanayam sa kanila at kinakamusta naman po namin sila kung kamusta na ang kanilang kalagayan,” she said.
“Fortunately ay maayos naman po ang kanilang kalagayan dahil dito sa Austria ay mayroong sinasabing COVID-19 economic measures that have been put in place by the government. Mayroong binibigyan na parang government-subsidized federal jobs program kung saan ang gobyerno ay tumutulong o sumusuporta sa mga employers,” she added.
Amatong said Austria has confirmed that there are two cases of Omicron in two federal states in the country.
“As a measure, sila po ay naghigpit ng travel coming from several Southern African countries. Noong Nov. 22, nag-impose ang Austrian government ng lockdown at kahapon ay nagdesisyon ang gobyerno na ipagpatuloy ang lockdown for another 10 days.”
Amatong said Austria’s travel ban has affected a number of OFWs who wish to go home to the Philippines for the holidays. -rir
