MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Embassy in Seoul is ready with a contingency plan for some 50,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) based in South Korea in case tensions with North Korea escalate into a full-blown conflict, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay.OFW POEA Work Abroad Echague Isabela
Binay, who is in the South Korean capital where he attended the 2nd Nuclear Security Summit as President Benigno Aquino III’s representative, reported on Monday that “our embassy is ready for a worst-case scenario” in the Korean peninsula.
During a dialog with leaders of 70-plus OFW groups at the embassy on No. 5-1 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu district, the Vice President expressed hope the security situation would not deteriorate as he also asked his hosts to pray for peace.
At the same time, Binay, also the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, described as “unfortunate” North Korea’s plan for a rocket launch next month.
Work in Singapore
“This is an unfortunate situation because there are existing United Nations resolutions and North Korea had said they will comply with the resolutions,” he said.
Structural Steel Detailing Batanes Islands
“We do not want to speculate on the effects of the launch,” he said. But “we hope it does not happen and North Korea complies with the UN resolutions. We will be directing local government (units in the Philippines) who could be affected to be prepared for any eventuality,” he added.
