PCOO Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio fields questions to Ambassador Christopher B. Montero during the interview.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 7 September 2020 – Philippine Ambassador Christopher B. Montero gave a COVID-19 situationer in Brunei Darussalam during a live online interview for PTV-4’s Laging Handa program hosted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on 07 September 2020.
In the interview conducted by PCOO Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio, Ambassador Montero cited the success of the Government of Brunei Darussalam in containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic by recording only 145 confirmed cases thus far, 139 of whom have already recovered (a recovery rate of 95.86%), with three (3) deaths and three (3) remaining active cases.
The Ambassador pointed out that out of the 145 cases, four (4) were Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who tested positive in March but have since fully recovered. In line with the Philippine Government’s efforts, financial assistance was extended to each OFW, while their hospitalization bills were shouldered by the government of His Majesty, the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam.
Aside from this, Ambassador Montero highlighted the other initiatives of the Embassy in assisting OFWs in Brunei Darussalam cope with the many challenges brought about the by pandemic. These include the DOLE’s AKAP Para Sa OFWs financial assistance program, a food package outreach that has so far benefitted 2,844 OFWs whose earning capacities were reduced at the onset of the pandemic, as well as the continuing conduct of online information sharing discussions with OFWs, and skills enhancement projects and activities as part of the Philippine Government’s reintegration program for OFWs.
Ambassador Montero concluded that in view of the effective management and handling of the pandemic by the Government of Brunei Darussalam, the employment condition of OFWs in the Sultanate has gradually returned to normalcy, in keeping with health and safety guidelines that continue to remain in place.END
Ambassador Montero gives a status report on the situation of Filipinos in Brunei Darussalam in coping with the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
