Senator Koko Pimentel lauded the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III lauded the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for its successful efforts and continued assistance to Filipinos abroad amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Pimentel, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, noted that the repatriation program for displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the daily tracking of COVID-positive Filipinos abroad are the most significant actions of DFA during the crisis.

"I wish that the DFA continues its efforts in extending assistance to OFWs in countries affected by the pandemic. Our OFWs are among the sectors hardest hit by the crisis. Napakahirap nang malayo sa pamilya at sa sariling bansa sa panahong ito," said Pimentel.

"Sa ngayon ay may binibigay na P10,000 one-time cash assistance ang DOLE sa ating displaced OFWs. The DFA can help augment the budget of DOLE's cash aid program by utilizing its own available funds. Kung p'wede lang naman po, 'yung Legal Assistance Fund and other funds meant for overseas Filipinos ay magamit sana pang dagdag sa Assistance to Nationals Fund," Pimentel further said.

Pimentel will be writing DFA Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. to request that the public advisories bearing the number of COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad likewise show separate data on the number of OFWs infected with COVID-19, including the number of deaths and recoveries, in different countries, as well as how they are being treated for COVID-19. According to him, this tracking system would make the public adequately informed of the status of the OFWs in relation to COVID-19.