Government and nongovernment groups announced actions to ensure the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) against the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) abroad and violence in Afghanistan.

Advisory 86, series of 2021, issued by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) official Bernard P. Olalia urged the recruitment and manning agencies to facilitate the vaccination of Filipinos overseas.

Olalia, POEA administrator, said the immunization should be done within four months prior to the departure of an OFW.

"All Philippine recruitment agencies (PRAs) are enjoined to inform all their workers to be deployed for overseas employment to register themselves with their respective local government units for vaccination," Olalia said.

In the case of licensed manning agencies (LMAs), Olalia said they should coordinate with the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the agency in-charge with the vaccination of seafarers.

"The PRAs and LMAs are, likewise, requested to provide assistance to their workers in the process of such registration," Olalia said.

He added that OFWs should be registered by their respective PRAs and LMAs using a QR code.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decided to include OFWs in the A1 category, the highest priority, in government's vaccination drive due last May amid the rising cases of Covid-19 cases in some countries.

It also considered reports that some foreign employers, particularly in the maritime industry, are requiring their workers to be first vaccinated against Covid-19 before they could be employed.

As of July 10, 2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported around 21,000 Filipinos have been infected abroad.

Afghanistan

Meanwhile, the Samahang Pilipino sa Afghanistan (SPA), an organization of Filipino professionals employed by several international organizations and offices for the development and assistance of Afghanistan, is taking inventory of Filipinos who are in the country.

According to recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani, the SPA is taking steps to ensure an orderly and safe repatriation protocols in coordination with embassy personnel in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Geslani quoted SPA officials as saying that, so far, it is normal in the "Green Zone" but outside Kabul city, however, following the withdrawal of US troops and the closing down of the Bagram Airfield last July 2, there is ongoing apprehension on the growing presence of Taliban in several provinces surrounding Kabul.

About 500 OFWs previously employed in the abandoned US bases in Afghanistan were airlifted to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Geslani said the shutdown of several US bases in Afghanistan has left behind in Dubai some 3,000 OFWs and are waiting for repatriation to the Philippines.

However, the Duterte administration banned travel from countries with high risk of Covid cases, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

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