PH officials help Filipinos repatriate from troubled Haiti

Filipinos line up at Haiti’s airport prior to boarding their flights to the Philippines. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Diplomatic officials from the Philippine Embassy here facilitated the repatriation of 30 Filipino nationals from Haiti on January 11 to 14.

Deputy Chief of Mission Renato Pedro O. Villa and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Ryan Dasal flew to Haiti to help 9 minors

and 21 adults return to the Philippines.

The Filipino community petitioned for repatriation due to Haiti’s unstable economic and security situation marked by continuous civil unrest, crime, and kidnappings.

Most of the minor repatriates will continue their studies in the Philippines.

Philippine Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Renato Pedro Villa (in blue checkered polo, seated in front) and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Ryan Dasal (in blue polo shirt, seated in front) meet with Filipino nationals for repatriation from Haiti. CONTRIBUTED

A group of 17 repatriates flew on Philippine Airlines (PAL) and a second group of 13 flew on Asiana. Both groups are scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on Thursday, January 16.

Camilo Duran, an overseas Filipino worker in Haiti and one of the repatriates, thanked the Duterte administration and the Philippine Embassy for the financial help they received, the US Embassy in Port Au Prince for approving their transit visas through New York, and “the people of Haiti who gave them the opportunity to earn a living.”

“We are praying and we are confident that the Haitian people will be able to overcome the hardships they are facing today,” Duran said in Filipino.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of our overseas Filipinos remain a top priority of the Philippine Government. The Philippine Embassy, along with the Philippine Consulates General and Honorary Philippine Consulates in the United States and in the Caribbean, are always here to listen and provide assistance to our kababayans as the need arises,” Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez said in a separate statement.