Palace: Reintegration awaits Pinoys returning from Egypt

When they return this weekend from violence-wracked Egypt, the first batch of repatriated Filipinos can avail of reintegration programs from the government, a Malacañang official said on Saturday. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has offered skills training and entrepreneurship programs as well as loans for small businesses, said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang on government-run dzRB radio. “We don’t know [kung] ano [ang] balak nila pag-uwi nila, will they remain in the Philippines o babalik pagkatapos ng gulo? Handa ang gobyerno para pangalagaan ang babalik na Pilipino," Carandang said. (We don’t know what their plans are when they arrive. Will they remain in the Philippines or will they go back to Egypt once the troubles end? Whichever the case, the government is ready to help the Filipinos coming home.) A first batch of 26 Filipinos is due to return home this Sunday, while efforts are underway to repatriate a second batch numbering about 20. (See: PHL Embassy in Cairo sends food to 'trapped' OFWs) On the other hand, Carandang said that with still no clear resolution to the conflict in Egypt in sight, the Philippine government is bracing itself to cope with a protracted crisis. “Si President Mubarak, hindi nagbigay ng indication kung kailan siya bababa. Ang demand ng protesters ay bumaba siya. Ang nangyayari, may narinig tayo baka magkaroon ng dialog between protesters and members of the government. Pero mukhang hindi siya maaayos anytime soon," he said. (President [Hosni] Mubarak has not given any indication if he will step down soon. The protesters’ demand is for him to step down. We heard there might be a dialogue between protesters and government. But it looks like the problem will not be solved anytime soon.) Carandang said that so far, the Philippine Embassy in Cairo has been responding well, with officials there working on a 24/7 basis. He said embassy staff members remain available 24 hours a day to report developments to Manila. “Kahit 2 a.m. tumatawag ako sa Embassy, palaging may sumasagot. Maganda ang trabaho ng embassy sa Egypt under Ambassador [Eduardo Pablo] Maglaya," he said. (Even when I call the Embassy there at 2 a.m., there’s always someone taking the call. The embassy in Egypt is doing a good job under [Charge d’Affaires] Maglaya.) Carandang said no Filipino was reported injured in Friday’s “Departure Day," where hundreds of thousands of Egyptians held a peaceful demonstration in Cairo to demand an immediate end to Mubarak’s 30-year rule. “I’m happy to announce, overnight ‘di nagkagulo, so nananatiling safe ang kababayan sa Egypt," Carandang said. (I am happy to announce there was no violence overnight, so Filipinos in Egypt remain safe for now.)—With Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV