March 27 ------ THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) led the repatriation of 176 Filipinos, who arrived early on Wednesday after they were rescued from scam centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar. In a statement, the DFA said the Filipino human trafficking victims (HTVs) boarded a special flight from Bangkok, Thailand. The DFA on Tuesday repatriated 30 Filipino HTVs also from Myanmar via Thailand.
"The Philippine government is unwavering in its commitment to protecting Filipinos abroad," the DFA said. "This successful operation reaffirms the country as the gold standard in migration protection mechanisms, ensuring that overseas Filipinos — particularly those identified as alleged victims of human trafficking — receive the prompt support and assistance needed," it added.
The DFA reiterated its advice to all Filipinos "to pass through the proper deployment procedures of the concerned government agencies, such as DMW (Department of Migrant Workers), before leaving the country for overseas employment." It added that coordination with Myanmar and Thai authorities "yielded the prompt actions" for the Filipino HTVs to safely cross from Myawaddy, Myanmar, to Mae Sot, Thailand, on March 24 and 25, and then" bussed without any stopovers to the airport in Bangkok to take the flights to Manila on the same day."
The special flight had a Rapid Response Team on board composed of DFA and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) officials and personnel to assist the 176 repatriates during their journey from Bangkok to Manila. Upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the DFA's partner agencies in the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking composed of the Department of Justice, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Migrant Workers, the Bureau of Immigration and OWWA welcomed the 176 repatriated Filipinos.
DSWD's aid
Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Wednesday that the victim-repatriates will be given psychosocial interventions and other necessary assistance to facilitate their rehabilitation and successful reintegration into their families and communities. "The role of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is focused on rehabilitation and reintegration," Gatchalian said.
"The DSWD, in partnership with the Department of Health, ensures the proper implementation of psychosocial interventions, including debriefing, and our social workers have been on the ground since yesterday to facilitate this process," he added. "We will ensure that we thoroughly understand each individual case to facilitate a successful reunion with their families," Gatchalian said. He said that the DSWD is ready to offer temporary shelter to repatriates who may not be ready for immediate reintegration, while the DMW provides initial accommodations.
Health monitoring
The DOH said it is closely monitoring the medical needs of the repatriates from Myanmar. As part of the standard repatriation process, the returnees are undergoing health assessments while coordinating with the DMW. Medical personnel from San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital, Las Piñas General Hospital and National Center for Mental Health have been deployed to provide urgent medical attention and psychosocial support to the repatriates, the DOH said.
Meanwhile, Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo cheered the return of the 176 human trafficking victims. The rescue and repatriation was ... a reminder of the threats and vulnerabilities faced by many overseas Filipinos," Salo said in a statement. "Alongside strengthening measures against human trafficking and illegal recruitment, we need to empower Filipinos to recognize the warning signs of human trafficking. We need to remind them as well to go through established legal processes in seeking employment opportunities abroad as these are designed for their protection," Salo added.
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Rep. Marissa "Del Mar" Magsino, chairman of the Anti-Trafficking OFW Movement, promised that the OFW Party List would continue pushing for stronger laws and protection for OFWs.
Source: manilatimes.net
Comments