Nearly 100 Filipinos from Mandalay, the area hardest hit by the recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, are set to be relocated to Yangon within the week, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega confirmed on Wednesday that of the 171 Filipinos currently in Mandalay, 97 have requested to be transferred.
Meanwhile, only one Filipino in Myanmar has sought repatriation following the disaster.
De Vega said that the Philippine Embassy in Myanmar is “now coordinating buses for Filipinos who will be transferred to Yangon.”
“I don’t have the time yet. It should happen this week obviously,” he told reporters.
“Assistance will be given, financial assistance as well. The fact is we’re paying the shelters. And if they want repatriation, we’ll pay,” he added.
According to Office of Migration Affairs Director Catherine Alpay, the Philippine embassy has visually confirmed the safety of 128 Filipinos in Mandalay, while 14 were outside Myanmar during the earthquake. Welfare checks are ongoing for 25 others.
“They just don’t reply, but there is no indication that they are missing,” Alpay said.
De Vega noted that while Yangon, where most Filipinos in Myanmar reside, was largely unaffected, the situation in the foreign country remains dire.
“Luckily, Yangon, where the majority of Filipinos are, was not that affected. Naypyidaw is damaged, so that’s where they want our workers, our contingent team to be, but let’s see what can be done,” he said.
The DFA acknowledged that the situation remains unsafe, and as for the four Filipinos who are still missing, the agency remains hopeful.
“All efforts are being made. Because sadly right now, hope springs eternal, but what gets discovered are mostly dead bodies, some in such state of decomposition that they had to be burned right away,” De Vega said.
“Now, we hope our countrymen won’t end up as just bodies or that they are still alive,” he added.