Palace says gov't has money to repatriate Pinoys from Japan

MANILA, Philippines – The Palace clarified today that there are existing funds for the repatriation of Filipinos in Japan should the need arises.

President Spokesman Edwin Lacierda issued the statement after Philippine Ambassador to Tokyo Manuel Lopez said earlier that there is no enough money to bring back the Filipinos here.

“We have a standby fund anyway, around P13 billion,” he said referring to the savings of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration.

“I’m sure the President can always direct the Department of Budget and Management to make sure that there will be funds for the repatriation if necessary,” he pointed out.

He said embassy workers in Tokyo are busy in reaching Filipinos trapped in Sendai City and the neighboring areas. Apart from search and rescue, he said they tasked the workers to properly account and care for all the affected Filipinos in the area.

“The Philippine embassy—its officials and employees—will be making sure that the Filipinos are amply identified and secured,” he said.

“For now, the concern is for their safety. We have to assess first where they are,” he added.

Early today, labor group Migrante International expressed outrage after Lopez said that the government has no budget for airfare for Filipinos in Japan who want to go home to the Philippines.

According to Migrante’s chairperson Garry Martinez, the Philippine embassy’s statement is “unacceptable if not incredible,” considering that OFW remittances from Japan peaked at $883 million last year.

“Ang taas ng kinikita ng gobyerno mula sa mga OFW sa Japan at tapos ngayon ang sasabihin ay walang pondo para sa kanila? One thing that summarizes the Philippine government’s response to the plight of our OFWs in distress these past few months is its betrayal and criminal neglect, ” Martinez said.

“This is the most silly and heartbreaking news we’ve heard so far, especially coming from the highest official of the Philippine Embassy,” said Migrante-Japan spokesperson Nestor Puno.