26 Pinoys home from Egypt; 2nd batch expected Wednesday

Twenty-six Filipinos who availed of the Philippine government's voluntary repatriation program arrived from conflict-hit Egypt Sunday afternoon. The Filipinos arrived at 4:15 p.m. on board an Emirates flight from Dubai, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement Sunday. It said the first batch included 14 women, 10 minors and two men — Filipino scholars from Al Azhar University and their families, three nurses from Dar Al Faoud Hospital, and household service workers. DFA Undersecretary for Migrante Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. and DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Executive Director Ricardo Endaya led DFA personnel in welcoming the Filipinos. The DFA said a second batch of Filipinos availing of voluntary repatriation will leave Egypt for home on Tuesday and is expected to arrive in Manila on Wednesday. This developed as the DFA said the situation in Egypt has improved, with food and water supplies now steady and banks having reopened.

“There are now steady supplies of food and water in Cairo. Banks have reopened, and people can withdraw money from automated teller machines," it said in a news release Sunday afternoon. On Saturday, DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya indicated in an interview on dzBB radio that about 20 Filipinos may make up the second batch. Citing an earlier report of Charge d’Affaires Eduardo Pablo Maglaya, the DFA said most Filipino community members consider themselves relatively safe in their residences and neighborhoods, and are hopeful that the current political impasse will be resolved soon. The DFA also said the Philippine Embassy still sees no need for forced evacuation. “In the Embassy’s assessment, there is no need for mandatory evacuation of Filipino community members at this time. There have likewise been no reports of Filipinos attacked or injured in the ongoing protest actions," it said. But it said Filipino community members who feel that their safety is at risk can avail of the Embassy’s voluntary repatriation program. It said the Embassy continues to reiterate to the Filipino community the government’s willingness to provide assistance. It also reiterated its advice to the Filipino community to stay indoors, steer clear of public places-especially sites of mass protest - and avoid involvement in political actions. The DFA added the Philippine government is focused on the safety and welfare of Filipinos in Egypt. Earlier, the DFA directed the Embassy to make immediate arrangements for the repatriation of Filipinos who wish to come home. It also directed the Philippine Embassies of countries near Egypt to make representations with their host governments to allow the safe passage of Filipinos from Egypt, in case a repatriation or evacuation by land becomes necessary. The DFA has set up a 24-hour hotline number at the DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) for relatives of Filipinos in Egypt who would like to inquire about their relatives. The DFA-OUMWA hotline number is 834-4580. - with Paterno Esmaquel II/KBK, GMA News Online