DFA needs more funds to repatriate stranded Filipinos

July 15 ------ As the number of overseas Filipino workers infected with COVID 19 increases, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed that it is running low on funds for the repatriation of thousands more OFW’s stranded in various parts of the globe. DFA Undersecretary Sara Arriola aired this concern during the inter-agency briefing on government’s migration policy during the pandemic conducted for the House Committee on Public Account chaired by Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor.

Aside from the near depletion of funds to finance the repatriation of stranded Filipinos overseas, Arriola lamented that the number of Filipinos infected with COVID 19 has increased. Arriola disclosed that as of July 13, at least 8,869 OFWs have been infected with the dreaded disease, with majority of them, a total 6,423, coming from the Middle East. Deaths have reached 618 while 2,975 OFWs are still sick.

Total deaths reported in the Middle East and Africa have reached 349, the DFA official reported. Of the deceased, 139 succumbed to the disease in Saudi Arabia. In the United Kingdom, at least 20 percent of the deaths were those of Filipino frontliners in various medical facilities. All over Europe, at least 1,053 Filipinos have tested positive for COVID 19 although 469 have recovered. The death toll has reached 95. At least 699 Filipinos in the Americas were reported to have been infected. A total 169 of them died.

“We are alarmed because our people abroad are not only infected but they are dying,” revealed Arriola. Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Defensor underscored the urgency of repatriating OFWs to forestall chances of getting the dreaded 2019 coronavirus. Arriola said the Lower House was instrumental in fast-tracking and increasing the number of OFWs who were repatriated in the past weeks.

So far 82,057 OFWS from over 60 countries and 132 cruise ships have arrived in the country. A total 38,308 of them were sea-based while 43,749 were land based. However, the repatriation operation is being hounded by funding problem. Arriola disclosed that out of the P1 billion allocated for the program of bringing home stranded Filipinos, only P232,948,881.28 or 22.2 percent remains in the bank. The DFA official said they will be running out of money by middle of August. The DFA, according to Arriola, has facilitated the repatriation of 27,777 since June 26. The foreign affairs officials cited Cayetano and the public account committee for making representations with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for the fast-tracking of the repatriation operations.

Source: mb.com.ph