Government to send plane for OFWs in Egypt

MANILA, Philippines –  The Philippine government will send a chartered plane to Egypt to repatriate Filipinos who have opted to come home because of the prevailing hostilities there.

Palace Communications Group Secretary Ricky Carandang said the plane would arrive in Egypt in a few days, and the cost of the repatriation would be shouldered by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In an interview over radio dzRB, Carandang said the political unrest in Egypt is not likely to settle soon because there were no indications that embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would step down anytime soon.

Some Filipinos, such as those married to Egyptians, do not want to be repatriated. The government instead advised them to stay away from areas where demonstrations are held.

The government has confirmed that no Filipinos were injured in the large rally held last Friday.

The first batch of 26 Filipinos who signed up for voluntary repatriation is expected to arrive in Manila at 4:20 p.m. today on an Emirates Airlines flight that was expected to depart from Cairo’s International Airport at 6:55 p.m. Cairo time.

The 26 repatriates -14 women, 10 minors and two men -are Filipino scholars from the Al Azhar University and their families, three nurses from Dar Al Faoud Hospital, and domestic workers.                                     

The embassy was assisted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Cairo in arranging the flight.

The embassy is preparing the repatriation of a second batch of 20 Filipinos through a commercial flight either tomorrow or Tuesday.

Twenty-seven Filipinos were scheduled to leave yesterday but four of them, a family, changed their minds and decided to stay. Another three joined the remaining repatriates.        

The embassy said Filipino migrants who are part of a community feel safe in their neighborhoods and continue to hope that the political impasse will be resolved soon.

Because of this, the embassy has not imposed a mandatory evacuation of Filipinos living in communities. Those who feel that their safety is at risk may contact the embassy for voluntary repatriation.

The DFA has also directed Philippine embassies in countries near Egypt to make arrangements with their host governments to allow Filipinos to safely pass through their territories if evacuation by land becomes necessary.     

Charge d’Affaires Eduardo Pablo Maglaya said there is now a steady supply of food and water in Cairo. Banks have also reopened, enabling withdrawal from automated teller machines.

The DFA has issued a travel advisory to Egypt enjoining Filipinos to postpone non-essential and non-urgent travel to the beleaguered nation until the security situation has stabilized.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is on official visit to Washington, urged the United Nations to issue a strong statement calling for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political conflict in Egypt. - With Pia Lee Brago, Jose Rodel Clapano