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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Life goes on': DFA exec says many Pinoys choose to 'stay put' in quake-hit Morocco

'Life goes on': DFA exec says many Pinoys choose to 'stay put' in quake-hit Morocco

Published Sep 11, 2023 09:18 am

Filipinos in quake-hit Morocco have chosen to “stay put” as “life goes on” there despite the rare and powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked the North African country late last week, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said on Monday, Sept. 11.

DFA_Morocco.jpgVillagers inspect the rubble of collapsed houses in Tafeghaghte, 60 kilometres (37 miles) southwest of Marrakesh, on September 10, 2023, two days after a devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

During the Laging Handa press briefing, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official disclosed that none of some 4,600 Filipinos in Morocco have asked to be repatriated.

“Ngunit sa case po ng mga kababayan natin sa Morocco, eh stay put po iyong mga kababayan natin and they are still there working and, you know, going on. Life goes on para sa karamihan po sa kanila (But in the case of our countrymen in Morocco, they decided to stay put, and they are still there working and, you know, going on. Life goes on for many of them),” he said.

This, Cortes added, was different from the case of the earthquake in Turkiye last February when Filipinos asked the Philippine government to help with their repatriation.

But while Filipinos in Morocco have decided to stay there for now, the official reiterated that the Philippine government is ready to help if they decide to go home.

He also said that there have been no reports of Filipino casualties due to the earthquake that so far killed more than 2,100 people.

“Of course, we are lucky na, of course, na wala sa Filipino community, but libu-libo po na mga kapwa nating Moroccans, mga brothers and sisters natin na Moroccan ang nasalanta at namatay. So, our heart goes sa mga biktima po ng lindol na ito (there is no one from the Filipino community, but thousands of our fellow Moroccans, our Moroccan brothers and sisters were affected and have died. So, our hearts goes to the victims of this earthquake),” he added.

Cortes shared that most of the Filipinos in Morocco are living and working in the capital of Rabat as household workers and blue-collar workers, while some 50 Filipinos are in Marrakesh.

“Wala naman pong naiulat sa kanila na nawalan na po ng trabaho. Wala ring naiulat na mga kababayan natin na gustong umuwi at magpa-repatriate (No reports of them losing their jobs. No reports of our countrymen who want to go home and be repatriated),” the official said.

The Philippine Embassy in Rabat is currently monitoring the situation of the Filipino community there.

Cortes said that the embassy can be reached through WhatsApp or text message at  +212-660-7645-77.

Related Tags

Morocco Paul Cortes deadly earthquake Marrakesh Department of Foreign Affairs Repatriation
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