The Philippine government has secured more than 300 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Sudan amid the ongoing clashes between soldiers and paramilitary forces in the conflict-torn African country.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople said the 300 more OFWs boarded seven buses on Saturday, April 29, and made a land trip to Cairo from the Argeen Land Port Authority at the Egypt-Sudan border.
photo: DMW Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople
“Their passports and travel documents were approved for entry into Egypt,” said Ople who was among the advance team, along with Undersecretary Hans Cacdac, to ensure the safe travel of the OFWs and their families.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnell Ignacio, on the other hand, is the lead official for the trip from Argeen to Cairo.
She said among those secured were children.
“Food, water and special provisions for child passengers are also onboard with each bus being supervised by a designated DMW officer,” said Ople.
“Hotel rooms for the evacuees have been booked and flights to Manila will also be arranged,” she added.
photo: DMW Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople
Ople also expressed her gratitude to Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago to Egypt and his team for what she described as hard work in having the exit clearances of the OFWs and their families approved.
She said Ambassador Tago and Vice-Consul Bojer Capati are also currently helping around 14 OFWs at a different Egyptian border to get the necessary immigration clearances.
The DMW has been actively assisting OFWs in Sudan, especially those who wanted to be repatriated due to the worsening security situation in the area.
Over 700 OFWs and Filipinos have already contacted the nearest Philippine embassy and around half of them earlier asked the Philippine government for repatriation.
Ople also vowed to provide financial and livelihood assistance to the Filipinos who decided to be repatriated.
On the other hand, she said she has been coordinating with his counterpart in Saudi Arabia for the temporary employment of some of the affected OFWs that would be repatriated from Sudan.