PH Embassy in Phnom Penh Facilitates Repatriation of 146 Distressed Filipinos in Cambodia  

Checking of attendance of repatriates before boarding the bus that will take them to the airport. (Phnom Penh PE photo)

PHNOM PENH 01 June 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh repatriated another 146 distressed Filipinos to be reunited with their families in Manila in an early morning flight on 28 May 2020. This is the second repatriation organized by the Embassy ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike the first repatriation on 18 April 2020, where the Department of Foreign Affairs chartered a plane, this repatriation took advantage of a special commercial flight mounted by Cambodia Angkor Air to bring home Filipinos adversely affected by the pandemic. This brings the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Cambodia to 313. 

Despite having only two active cases of COVID-19 infection, the Cambodian government has not let its guards down and continued to implement measures to prevent a second wave of the pandemic taking place in the Kingdom. Schools and casinos remain closed, while operations of many garment factories have been suspended, primarily due to canceled orders from abroad. These establishments are the main employers of the majority of Filipinos in Cambodia. Thus, the source of income of many Filipinos in Cambodia has been gravely affected. 

“The Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh, like the other Philippine foreign service posts, is working tirelessly to assist the Filipino diaspora as they face the challenges brought about by this pandemic. We understand that our kababayans here in Cambodia, especially those working as teachers, garment factory workers, and casino employees have been badly hit and so we continue to rally resources to assist them,” said Charge d’Affaires Myca Magnolia M. Fischer.

“Ang programang ito ay naging tulay upang makasama ko ulit ang aking mahal sa buhay lalo na sa panahon ngayon ng malawakang epedemyang COVID-19 na nagdulot ng maraming mga bagay bagay. Naiyak talaga ako ng marinig ko na napasama ako sa listahan ng mga uuwi. Kasi ramdam ko kung gaano ako kasaya ng mga panahon na iyon. Naging napakabuti ng lahat ng mga staff ng Philippine Embassy sa Cambodia. Dahil po sa kanila ay napadali ang aming pag uwi pabalik sa Pinas lalo na hindi namin afford na bumili ng ticket. Well-appreciated ko ang lahat ng mga hakbang na isinagawa para lamang matulungan ang mga nangangailangang makauwi. Muli, ay pinasasalamatan namin ang mga taong nagtaguyod at sumuporta sa programang ito (“This program became a bridge for me to be with my loved ones especially in this time of the COVID-19 epidemic which has brought a lot of things. I cried when I heard that I was included in the list of those who can come home. I felt so happy that time. The staff of the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia is very nice. Because of them, coming home to the Philippines became easy since we cannot afford the plane tickets. All the steps that they have taken are well-appreciated in an effort to help those who need to go home. Once again, thank you to all the people who put effort and support in this program”), said Ma. Yenesel Faith Jamantoc, who used to work as an English as a second language (ESL) teacher in Preah Vihear province, was ecstatic when told that the DFA has approved her request to be repatriated.

 “Ito lang po ang sure way para makauwe kami sa Pinas.. saka malaking factor po na libre yung airfare lalo na po sa amin na nawalan ng work. Malaking bagay po na napagbigyan niyo yung hiling ng iba about accommodations. Mabilis po yung proseso ng Embassy. Magandang idea din po yung may sariling groupings with Embassy representatives (“This is the only sure way we can go home to the Philippines…it is also a big factor that our airfare is free, especially for us that are currently unemployed. It is a huge thing for us that the Embassy has granted the wishes of others about the accommodations. The Embassy has a fast process. It is a good idea also that there are own groupings with Embassy representatives.”) said Jen, whose work as a CCTV Shift Manager in a casino was abruptly terminated, commended the Embassy for its responsiveness to the needs of the Filipino community in Cambodia. END

The Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh personnel provides dinner/breakfast-to-go for repatriates given their early morning flight back to Manila. (Phnom Penh PE photo)

Young repatriates eager to go home. (Phnom Penh PE photo)

Despite the lack of sleep, repatriates are excited to board the plane that will bring them home. (Phnom Penh PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.phnompenhpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinCambodia/, or https://twitter.com/PhilippineIn.