Phl gov't gears up for displaced Pinoys in Malaysia

The Philippine government is now preparing to accommodate the hundreds of Filipino workers in Malaysia who would be displaced by the clashes in Sabah between the followers of the Sultanate of Sulu and the Malaysian security forces.

Secretary Dinky Soliman of the Department of Social Work and Development said they are readying government programs, along with the labor department, to provide work for Filipinos who would be returning to the country due to the volatile situation in Sabah.

"Yan lang po sa iba't-ibang plantations at service industries sa Sabah po mismo. Sabah lang po 'yun. Hindi natin sinasama 'yung ibang bahagi ng Malaysia. Palagay ko naman hindi lahat ay uuwi pero dalawa na ho 'yung namonitor naming nagkusa ito ngang dumating sa Tawi-Tawi at meron din pong dumating by boat from Sandakan pero I think 20 families lang po 'yun na hindi dineport kundi sila mismo ay umalis kasi ayaw po nilang masama sa gulo," Soliman said in a radio interview.

She said DSWD personnel based in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have been coordinating with the families of the members of the royal army of the Sultanate of Sulu, who went to Sabah, and providing them with assistance.

"Inaabot po din natin yung mga pamilya na sumama sa Lahad Datu. Ibig sabihin, kami po ay nagbukas ng humanitarian corridor kasi 'yung iniwan po nilang asawa nila, mga anak, mga katandaan e kulang na din po ang pagkain kaya't meron na po tayong hinatid na mga bigas, sa Simunon, sa Sibuto kasama na rin po 'yung corridor na nabuksan sa Basilan at sa mga lugar sa Zamboanga.

"Itong asawa ni Rajah Muda ay aming kausap po at ang mga social workers natin ng DSWD-ARMM ang nakikipag ugnayan at sa Region 9 po," she added.

Soliman said the short- and medium-term work programs will be awaiting those Filipinos who would be repatriated or who would opt to leave Malaysia voluntarily.

"Kami ho ni Secretary (Rosalinda) Baldoz ay nag uusap na meron ho tayong cash for work. 'Yun ho ay pinakamabilis halimbawa dumating bumalik na po sila sa kanilang lugar at malakihang bilang, immediately pwede natin implement cash for work yung paglilinis, pag-aayos ng mga public infrastructure o public buildings para makakuha kaagad sila ng sweldo.

"Ang susunod po ay yung pinaplanong sustainable livelihood interventions kasama po ang TESDA at ang DOLE para magkaroon po ng pagsasanay kung kailangan meron ho 'yung tinatawag nating starter kit ng iba't ibang klaseng enterprise mula po sa agrikultara at technical skills tulad ng welding, 'yung construction skills," Soliman said.

She said the funding for the programs will be coming from the DSWD's quick response budget, a part of the calamity fund, amounting to P620 million this year.