Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday, November 12 urged the Marcos government to approach the imminent policy shift in the United States calmly instead of agitating undocumented Filipinos that would be facing an imminent immigration crackdown.

“Instead of sounding alarmist, our government officials should focus on creating a comprehensive contingency plan to assist our Filipino kababayans if, and when, President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his campaign promise to implement a large-scale immigration crackdown,” Estrada said.

“Madaling sabihin, pero mahirap gawin. Madaling sabihin na sana piliin na lang na umuwi ng mga undocumented nating kababayan na sa US kesa antayin pa nilang mai-deport (It’s easy to say, but hard to do. It's easy to say that our undocumented compatriots who are already in the US should choose to go home instead of waiting to be deported),” he pointed out.

He said such directive should be backed by a comprehensive plan on how to reintegrate them to Philippine society and in the country’s workforce.

Estrada pointed out the family of these undocumented Filipinos in the US depend on their remittances and are bound to be affected in case they are forced to return home.

“In addition to the efforts of concerned government agencies to create logistical support plans for eventual repatriation, authorities should also help returning Filipinos by providing them with jobs or other means of livelihood,” he pointed out.

“Our government should be prepared to offer financial assistance programs to help families affected by the loss of a financial lifeline,” he stressed.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States (US) Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez earlier said it would be best for undocumented Filipinos in the US to voluntarily leave instead of facing deportation.

Romualdez made the call in light of Trump’s promise to conduct an unprecedented mass deportation of undocumented foreigners in the US.