MANILA – No Filipino in Russia has been diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Philippine Ambassador Carlos Sorreta reported Friday.
This also goes for Filipinos in Armenia, Kasakhstan, and Belarus, which are under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Moscow.
Although no Filipino has contracted the disease in Russia, Sorreta said some have been affected by work disruptions caused by the health crisis.
"Ang karamihan ng Filipinos sa Russia ay nandito sa Moscow. Ang marami po sa kanila ay household service workers. So marami rin pong part-timers na hindi muna makapasok sa trabaho so apektado po sila (Most of the Filipinos in Russia are in Moscow and most of them are household service workers. Many of the part-timers here can't work. They are indeed affected)," Sorreta said in a phone interview during the Laging Handa briefing.
The embassy is providing food packs and shelter to the affected Filipinos. It is also gathering data on Filipinos who want to be repatriated to the Philippines.
Vice Consul Khaye Alpay told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that two Filipinos are currently housed at the embassy and have availed of its "voluntary deportation program" due to issues on their visas.
Alpay said the survey for repatriation would run until April 30. As of posting, less than a dozen have requested to be sent to the Philippines.
"Bagama't may survey kaming isinasagawa, ito ay preparasyon lamang ng datos para sa posibilidad ng pagtulong sa repatriation ng mga Pilipinong nais makauwi. Wala pang repatriation na magaganap (While we are conducting a survey, this is only a preparation of data for the possible repatriation of Filipinos who want to go home. No definite date for repatriation has been set)," she said.
According to the latest data from the World Health Organization, Russia has at least 27,938 Covid-19 infections; 1,295 in Kazakhstan; 3,728 in Belarus; and 1,135 in Armenia.
Despite these numbers, Sorreta said the Filipino community is generally in a stable condition.
"Sila po ay so far maganda ang kalagayan. Mayroong mga naghihirap ng kaunti pero ginagawa namin ang lahat ng tulong na magagawa namin. Kasama po namin ang DOLE at OWWA (They are so far in a stable condition. There are those who are experiencing difficulties but we are extending all the help we could give, together with the Department of Labor and Employment and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration)," he said.
More than 10,000 Filipinos are in Russia, about 1,500 in Kazakhstan, less than 50 in Belarus, and 500 in Armenia. (PNA)
