Thread by @cnnphilippines

THREAD: The Department of Foreign Affairs holds a briefing on the situation of overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong and Ukraine.

Updates by our correspondent @TristanNodalo and digital producer @kristellimpot

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot PH Consul General Raly Tejada: I wish to inform everyone that the PH Consulate General has extended emergency assistance to all Filipinos affected by the pandemic here in Hong Kong.

Tejada adds all COVID-infected OFWs are safe and staying in an isolation facility.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Tejada: The seemingly panic mode which gripped the Hong Kong healthcare system last week has since subsided...

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Tejada: They have implemented starting today a vaccine pass policy where all public areas of congregation—such as shopping malls, supermarkets—and religious premises will require people to present proof of vaccination.

https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines/status/1496745430201237505

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Tejada: The panic due to the surge in Hong Kong has now subsided.

Tejada says that all infected Filipinos are all accounted for.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Tejada: Hong Kong has implemented vaccine pass policy which will require vaccine cards when entering public places.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot DFA Asec. Paul Cortes says the department has repatriated around 458,000 Filipinos globally since the start of the pandemic. He notes the bulk of these flights were from Dubai.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot DFA Usec. Sarah Arriola on Ukraine-Russia crisis: The DFA is managing the repatriation of our nationals in Ukraine. Six of our kababayans arrived last Feb. 18. Four who arranged for voluntary repatriation are to depart today.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot DFA Usec. Arriola: Our chief and singular concern is to take out of harm’s way our fellow Filipinos in Ukraine. For now, we urge our kababayans not to panic but exercise caution and to maintain communication with the Philippine embassy should they need assistance.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot DFA Usec. Arriola on situation in Ukraine: All our kababayans can just approach our Philippine Consulate in Kyiv if they need repatriation or if they need to transfer to a safer place.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Consul Gen. Tejada on terminated OFWs in HK: We will investigate the circumstances of their termination. If we need to file charges, we will do so. bit.ly/33LZKzH

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Consul Gen. Tejada: We also issued a warning to employers not to do a similar act in the future, because they will face charges, if it so merits.

https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines/status/1496747644659527683

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Will the HK employers be blacklisted from hiring Filipino workers?

Consul Gen. Tejada: Definitely. That's the first step we will do if they're found guilty of illegally terminating their employees. But more than that, they're liable for violating the employment ordinance of HK.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Tejada on OFWs in HK: The recurring theme is that when they tested positive for COVID-19, either the dormitory or the dormmates wouldn't want them back, so they were thrown in the streets. Kababayan natin yung ibang dormmates nila, they probably fear contracting the virus.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Amid the termination of some Filipino workers in Hong Kong, Consul Gen. Tejada says he doesn’t subscribe to the idea “that Filipinos have been discriminated and seen as carriers of the virus.”

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot Tejada: Hong Kong is progressive, and many of its citizens are open-minded, very accepting of all cultures. I think it’s a bit unfair to say HK people are discriminatory. The fear of the virus is probably the main driving force that made several unwanted actions happen last week

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot DFA Usec. Arriola on Ukraine situation: We don't know if or when the alert level is going to be raised, but I'm sure Sec. Locsin will assess the situation on the ground and will make a decision.

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot DFA Usec. Arriola says some Filipinos in Ukraine are still undecided on going home. "Our Filipinos, especially those who have work & families, have to weigh a lot of things. What we're doing is offering assistance in case they decide to come home or relocate anywhere in Ukraine"

@TristanNodalo @kristellimpot DFA Asec. Cortes notes that repatriation for Filipinos in Ukraine is still voluntary: Pag nag-increase na yung alert level, tulad noon sa Afghanistan kung saan level 4, ay mandatory na ang evacuation.