Pinoys in Ukraine told to prepare for possible evacuation
(Updated 4:27 p.m.) The Philippine government has advised its citizens in troubled Ukraine to prepare for possible evacuation amid the ongoing civil disturbance there and Russia's threat to use military force.
In a statement Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario raised crisis alert level 2 (restriction phase) for Ukraine in view of ongoing tensions there.
Under Alert Level 2, Filipinos in Ukraine are advised to "restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, closely monitor developments, and prepare for possible evacuation."
A five-member Rapid Response Team from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of the President, Department of Labor and Employment and Philippine National Police will depart for Ukraine as soon as possible, said Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez.
“The Philippines expresses its deep concern regarding developments in Ukraine and calls on all parties to exercise restraint, not to escalate through the use of force, and follow obligations under international law,” Hernandez said.
“The Philippines urges all parties to resolve the crisis through dialogue,” he added.
Keep calm
In a separate statement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz advised overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the troubled country “to stay calm and stay home, and not make any unnecessary visit or detours to public places where marches or protests are being held.”
The Eastern European country that borders Russia on the east and northeast was rocked by civil disturbance in recent weeks that led to a new government.
The new government announced it had fired the head of the navy and launched a treason case against him for surrendering Ukraine's naval headquarters to Russian forces in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, where Moscow has a major naval base.
The DFA has strongly advised all Filipinos in Ukraine to communicate with the Philippine Embassy in Moscow, as the Philippines has no embassy in Kiev, Ukraine's capital, although it has an honorary consul there.
The Filipinos in Ukraine were also urged to inform the embassy of their whereabouts and their current condition, and to contact their families in the Philippines and apprise them of their situation.
Filipinos who want to return to the Philippines should contact the Philippine Embassy, Baldoz said.
Citing data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Baldoz said there are 115 OFWs in Ukraine in 2013 and 57 in 2012, or a total of 175.
Of the number, 41 were administrative and managerial workers while 30 were service workers.
Baldoz said the Department of Labor and Employment is in close contact with the DFA in monitoring the sitaution in Ukraine. — with Michaela del Callar/KBK, GMA News
In a statement Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario raised crisis alert level 2 (restriction phase) for Ukraine in view of ongoing tensions there.
Under Alert Level 2, Filipinos in Ukraine are advised to "restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, closely monitor developments, and prepare for possible evacuation."
A five-member Rapid Response Team from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of the President, Department of Labor and Employment and Philippine National Police will depart for Ukraine as soon as possible, said Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez.
“The Philippines expresses its deep concern regarding developments in Ukraine and calls on all parties to exercise restraint, not to escalate through the use of force, and follow obligations under international law,” Hernandez said.
“The Philippines urges all parties to resolve the crisis through dialogue,” he added.
Keep calm
In a separate statement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz advised overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the troubled country “to stay calm and stay home, and not make any unnecessary visit or detours to public places where marches or protests are being held.”
The Eastern European country that borders Russia on the east and northeast was rocked by civil disturbance in recent weeks that led to a new government.
The new government announced it had fired the head of the navy and launched a treason case against him for surrendering Ukraine's naval headquarters to Russian forces in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, where Moscow has a major naval base.
The DFA has strongly advised all Filipinos in Ukraine to communicate with the Philippine Embassy in Moscow, as the Philippines has no embassy in Kiev, Ukraine's capital, although it has an honorary consul there.
The Filipinos in Ukraine were also urged to inform the embassy of their whereabouts and their current condition, and to contact their families in the Philippines and apprise them of their situation.
Filipinos who want to return to the Philippines should contact the Philippine Embassy, Baldoz said.
Citing data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Baldoz said there are 115 OFWs in Ukraine in 2013 and 57 in 2012, or a total of 175.
Of the number, 41 were administrative and managerial workers while 30 were service workers.
Baldoz said the Department of Labor and Employment is in close contact with the DFA in monitoring the sitaution in Ukraine. — with Michaela del Callar/KBK, GMA News
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