DFA on lowering alert level: OFWs in Yangon doing well

The DFA approved to downgrade from 4 to 2 the alert level in Myanmar following the visit of DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega there last week. (File Photo By Patrick Roque, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said the more than 400 Filipinos working in Yangon are doing fine as it explained its decision behind the long-awaited lowering of alert level in Myanmar.

The DFA approved to downgrade from 4 to 2 the alert level in Myanmar following the visit of DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega there last week.

“Sa Yangon kung nasaan ang karamihan sa kanila, lagpas 400, ay matiwasay naman, kontrolado ‘yong situation (In Yangon where most of OFWs are, the over 400 Filipinos are doing fine and the situation there is under control),” De Vega said in a radio interview on Tuesday.

“Under alert level 2 meron nang possibility for them to come home to the Philippines at hindi na natin sila pagbabawalang bumalik doon (Under alert level 2 there is now a possibility for them to come home and we will not prohibit them from returning),” he added.

De Vega clarified that the situation in Myanmar has yet to return to normal and Manila’s no new deployment policy will stay.

But he said the Department of Migrant Workers is currently looking at the possibility of allowing previously repatriated OFWs to return to work in Myanmar.

“Titignan nila kung may ire-retain sila na working visa or contract baka makabalik din, pero new employment hindi pa po puwede (They will see if they can retain their working visa or contract they might be able to go back but there will still be no new deployment),” he said.

“Para po sa kabutihan nila ‘yan kasi mayroon pang mga lugar sa Myanmar na mapanganib pa dahil kontrolado pa ng mga rebelde (That is for their own good because there are still places in Myanmar that are dangerous and under rebel control),” he added.

Several Filipinos remain in conflicted areas in Myanmar, who De Vega said are likely victims of human trafficking and some were forced to work in crypto scamming operations.

At least 143 of these victims, he said, were able to return to the Philippines but at least 16 more are awaiting rescue.

“Mayroon pang 16 na nakikipag-coordinate ‘yong pamilya na hindi pa natin nare-rescue dahil hawak ng rebels ‘yong mga lugar noon (The families of those 16 Filipinos are coordinating with us but we cannot rescue them because these are rebel strongholds),” he said.

During his visit to Myanmar, De Vega said police authorities made an assurance to look into their situation.