Stranded Filipinos abroad are using the hashtag #AllowUsToGoHome to urge the Philippine government to help them go home as most of them have no work and income anymore due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The hashtag is being used by both Facebook and Twitter users.
Stranded Filipinos are calling the attention of officials who are dealing with the repatriation, including Foreign Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr., Mocha Uson and President Rodrigo Duterte.
@teddyboylocsin we were forced to be rebooked on August 01, but considering our situation, hindi na po kaya. All our lines will be cut off, evicted na dn po kami sa bahay nmin. Please help us.
— UAE STRANDED OFWS (@SarsiPopsi) June 20, 2020
#AllowUsToGoHome#UAEStrandedOFW#EmiratesAirline https://t.co/ws4WHDxDuc
— UAE STRANDED OFWS (@SarsiPopsi) June 18, 2020
“Sir @teddyboylocsin Please help reach the government, we need po daily ang flights ng Emirates Airlines for July. Our flights got cancelled because of the approval that was given to our airline (3x a week, DXB to MNL via Emirates Airline,” Twitter user @SarsiPopsi writes.
She also informed the secretary that they were forced to be rebooked on August 1.
“We were forced to be rebooked on August 10, but considering our situation, hindi na po kaya. All our lines will be cut off, evicted na din po kami sa bahay. Please help us,” she added.
Dear @emirates @EmiratesSupport , we appeal to kindly resume daily flights from DXB to MNL, EK0332. This is our only hope! Help us! @teddyboylocsin @dododulay @lenirobredo @HHShkMohd @sheikhmansoor @HHAhmedBinSaeed Please! We will be evicted soon in our house. We're begging you!
— UAE STRANDED OFWS (@SarsiPopsi) June 19, 2020
She even tagged Emirates airline, the airline’s customer support, Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Dodo Dulay, Vice President Leni Robredo, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority Ahmed bin Saeed.
Twitter user @daingtinapa also called Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Deputy Admin Mocha Uson to help the stranded OFWs in UAE.
@MochaUson Hi Mocha, We're OFWs from UAE and we're stranded here. Our flights got cancelled due to Philippine's airline restrictions, we're unemployed for 3 months, and will be evicted at the end of the month. Please help us.#UAEStrandedOFW#AllowUsToGoHome
— UAE STANDED OFWs (@daingtinapa) June 18, 2020
“Hi Mocha, we’re OFWs from UAE and we’re stranded here. Our flights got cancelled due to Philippine’s airline restrictions, we’re unemployed for three months and will be evicted at the end of the month,” she writes.
None of these public officials are addressing the concerns of OFWs stranded abroad.
Just recently, The Global Filipino Magazine published an open letter written by stranded OFWs in Qatar with the same concern.