DFA expects repat. reqs for quake-affected Filipinos

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Monday that it expects repatriation requests from Filipinos affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar.

Some Filipinos have lost their jobs due to the disaster, prompting the DFA to investigate and respond to these requests.

Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega stated that assistance will be provided for those who wish to return home, similar to support given during the 2023 Turkey earthquake.

Filipinos returning from Myanmar will first be transported to Bangkok, Thailand, before undergoing government reintegration programs in the Philippines.

As of Monday, the death toll from the earthquake has risen to over 1,700 and four Filipinos remain unaccounted for in Mandalay, Naypyidaw, and Yangon.

The DFA is coordinating efforts with the Department of Migrant Workers to assist affected Filipinos and will send a contingent to help find missing individuals.

Filipino professionals in Mandalay are among those potentially impacted by job losses and displacement following the quake.