PH ready to evacuate OFWs in Egypt if riots escalate, Palace says
Malacanang said it is prepared to evacuate the 6,500 Filipinos working and studying in Egypt should the rioting in that country escalate.
This was disclosed on Saturday morning by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte in an interview on Radyo ng Bayan as she announced that President Benigno S. Aquino III has tasked the Departments of Foreign Affairs, National Defense and Labor and Employment and the Presidential Management Staff to meet that day to agree and make recommendations on what measures to take should the peace and order situation in Egypt worsen.
For the peace of mind of Filipinos with relatives or friends in that country, the government has set up three evacuation centers in Cairo and one in Alexandria to prepare for any eventuality, Valte said.
“The President has been constantly monitoring the situation in Egypt since last night until early this morning. In fact, he has already given instructions to the agencies concerned for them to come up with recommendations on augmenting current efforts,” Valte said.
The DFA also said it is ready to repatriate all the 6,500 Filipinos in Egypt right now. “Nobody will be left out—documented or not,” Valte said.
DFA Assistant Secretary Ed Malaya said of the 6,500 Filipinos based in Egypt, half are overseas contract workers (OCWs) and domestic helpers, around 1,000 are students while the balance are there in unspecified capacities and presumed to be working there.
Worth noting is that there are still no Filipino casualties from the unsettling conditions in Egypt, continued Valte adding that the embassy has advised all Filipinos to stay in their homes for their safety. (PCOO)
Palace announces more appointments
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed Maria Rosario C. Aguinaldo as ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje as commissioner of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM).
The appointments were announced in a radio interview by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte on Radyo ng Bayan including those of: Cecilia S. Alba, as secretary general of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council along with Ria Corazon A. Golez-Cabrera as commissioner with a term ending Feb. 16, 2015.
Arthur Saipudin was appointed as Acting Director II of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board; Maria Joy Jarabello as member of the Philippine Commission Women representing the urban poor sector; Nathanl Servando as Acting Administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Also appointed as acting Deputy Administrators of PAGASA were: Flaviano Hilario; Vicente Malano and Catalino Davis and for the Bureau of Customs appointed as acting Director III was Simplicio N. Domingo;
Richard Juanillo was designated as Acting Director III of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) under the Department of Science and Technology and Rene Burt Llanto as acting Director IV of DOST.
Named as board members of the United Coconut Planters Bank under the Presidential Commission on Good Government were: Menardo Jimenez, as chairman and board members are: Ramon Y. Sy; Gemino Macaraeg Jr; Cristina Orbeta; Angela Ignacio, Danilo V. Pulido, Atty. Carlos P. Estabillo; Atty. Nilo T.Divina; Jose A. Poblete, Atty. Raul V. del Mar; Atty. Juan Andres Bautista, Atty. Richard Amurao, all members of the UCPB board.
Appointed to the Office of the President, co terminus, were: Nabil A. Tan as undersecretary and Gina B. Campano-de la Cruz and Dina Shahani, as assistant secretaries..
Appointed as Prosecutors I under the Department of Justice were: Audrey An Espanola (Iloilo); Atty. Joseph Cortez, (Negros Oriental); Atty. Rene B. Romero Jr (Ormoc City); Atty. Pete Zamora (Zamboanga del Norte) and Atty. Joseph Edward Sam A. Yularan, Ozamis City. Appointed Prosecutor II was Atty. Nefertiri Cristobal, of Tagbilaran City. (PCOO)
