Gov't assures help for Filipinos in Ukraine

MANILA, Philippines - A team from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) met with the Filipino community in Ukraine amid the ongoing unrest between the country and Russia.

Philippine Ambassador to Russia Alejandro Mosquera and a team of personnel from DFA and DOLE met with more than 40 Ukraine-based Filipinos at Hotel Rus in downtown Kiev on March 16 and talked about the need for preparedness and the importance of communication with the Philippine government in light of recent developments in Ukraine.

The DFA-DOLE Team was composed of DFA Special Assistant Belinda M. Ante and Labor Attaché David Des Dicang and Third Secretary Jeffrey Angelo Valdez of the Philippine Embassy in Moscow, DFA said.

Ukraine recently overthrew its president Viktor Yanukovych in a violent uprising followed by Russia's occupation of Crimea.

"The Filipinos in attendance expressed their appreciation for the team’s visit and assured the Ambassador of their full cooperation in mobilizing the community. There are an estimated 198 Filipinos in Ukraine," DFA said in a statement.