EXPRESSING concern on the possible negative global effect of the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, senators said it is important that our government prepare for the possible worse scenario and anticipate the impacts on Filipinos both in Ukraine as well as in the country as the economic impacts in terms of rising fuel prices, inflation, the value of the peso and the Philippine Stock Market is starting to be felt.

Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon urged a multi-partisan contingency plan for the Philippine government.

“War in Eastern Europe over Ukraine is fraught with dangers. I urge the immediate formulation and announcement of a comprehensive plan to minimize the expected fallout of the likely war in Eastern Europe over Ukraine,” Gordon stated.

“The contingency plan must be multi-partisan given the required interrelated programs and activities that need to be coordinated. Inputs from both the Legislature and the Executive are critical. Consultation with our affected citizens, if practicable, is key,” he added.

Gordon stressed that there should be a logical plan for the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Ukraine, as well as its neighboring countries including Turkey, Poland, and Belarus.

In Ukraine alone, there are 380,000 OFWs that need to be evacuated immediately.

“The social and economic fallout of [an] all-out war in Eastern Europe are huge and many. At the top of the list are the dangers that OFWs are facing. Funding assistance should be provided to our OFWs to smoothen their re-entry once they are evacuated. This requires additional funds from the national government budget on top of what the POEA [Philippine Overseas Employment Administration] and OWWA [Overseas Workers Welfare Administration] have already,” Gordon stressed.

The risk of all-out war in Eastern Europe was heightened following what United States Pres. Joe Biden said was the start of Russia’s invasion as troops entered two separatist jurisdictions in Eastern Ukraine.

Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin called his order of incursion in Eastern Ukraine peacekeeping. In response, Biden announced new financial sanctions against Russia, ordering US financial institutions to cease dealing with Russia over its public debt, with more economic sanctions to be announced.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson for his part said the government should lose no time in preparing safety nets to protect Filipinos from a possible economic fallout caused by Russia’s “imminent” invasion of Ukraine.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, said that while Ukraine is far from the Philippines, an invasion there may have adverse effects worldwide.

“We might think that Ukraine is far away and that there is no danger for the Philippines. We are all living in a global village. An invasion of Ukraine may adversely affect the stock markets all over the world. Prices of basic commodities and fuel may increase. We need to be prepared for this, not to mention that we are still suffering from the pandemic and are far from an economic recovery,” Lacson said.

“We hope that there are contingency plans for increases in prices, disruptions in supply chains, and possible repatriation of Filipinos not just in Ukraine but in neighboring countries,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lacson inquired if the government is making preparations for Filipinos in Ukraine, noting that the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries like Estonia are asking their citizens to leave Ukraine within the next 48 hours.

While Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed confidence that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will do its job seriously to make sure that Filipinos in Ukraine will have the necessary help from our government as he confirmed that a meeting with DFA Sec. Teddy Locsin is set to happen anytime soon.

“I have full trust and confidence in the capabilities and leadership of the DFA. Secretary Locsin would know what to do and we will ask for a briefing thereafter,” Sotto said. By CAMILLE P. BALAGTAS-SARMIENTO