The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced Monday that it is unlikely to initiate the repatriation of Filipino workers displaced by recent clashes along the Thailand-Cambodia border.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that while the agency is prepared to respond, a mass return to the Philippines is not anticipated at this time.
He noted that the 251 Filipinos in seven areas near the border are already receiving assistance from the government.
Cacdac clarified that the affected workers, primarily teachers and faculty supervisors, are legally employed in Thailand and Cambodia.
“This is a situation where they are not necessarily illegal there or victims of human trafficking,” Cacdac said in an interview with GMA Integrated News.
“So we don’t see any repatriation. As long as the situation de-escalates, they can go back to work.”
The DMW chief reported that no Filipino casualties have been recorded. Affected individuals are currently housed in evacuation centers or taking shelter in the homes of their compatriots.
The government is providing financial aid to address their basic needs, particularly for teachers whose classes have been suspended due to the conflict.
The Philippine government continues to monitor the situation closely while ensuring the welfare of its nationals abroad.q