President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday (March 17) maintained his stand on the country’s neutrality on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In his speech in Palo, Leyte, Duterte said he does not want the situation to get worse and for the Philippines to intervene between the countries involved.
“Ako diyan sa Russia, nasasakitan ako. Kaibigan ko si Putin eh. I… I… He’s a personal friend… Hindi natin away iyan, huwag tayong makialam. Sinabi na nga ng lahat ng scientists, if it goes nuclear, tapos na talaga tayo diyan,” he said.
In the Friday (March 18) Laging Handa briefing, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator for Administration and Fund Management Arnell Ignacio said the government is closely monitoring the situation of Filipinos in eastern Europe.
To date, 326 Filipinos have been repatriated through the government’s efforts.
“Binibigyan natin sila ng P10,000 na cash assistance hanggang pinakamabilis nating maiaabot ay ibinibigay na natin,” Ignacio said.
The government is also intensifying its assistance to affected Filipinos amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in some East Asian countries, together with the recent strong quake that hit Japan.
“Sa Japan wala naman tayong mga natatanggap na mga seryosong paghingi ng tulong, pero ang Labor Attaché namin doon ay very, very effective naman. Dalawa-dalawa ang ating POLO-OWWA diyan, isa sa Osaka at saka isa sa Tokyo,” Ignacio said. – Report from Mela Lesmoras/AG-rir
