Philippine Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has thanked young Filipino priest Fr. Aldrin Alvarado for accommodating more than 50 evacuated oil workers ‘in his chapel in Malta.’

Fr Alverado hosted them in the Millennium Chapel for a few days, but they have now left Malta.

Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz

In a statement, the Philippine Department of Labour said the MV Bridge has been chartered in Malta and is to sail for Benghazi and then Misrata to embark several hundred Filippino workers, bringing them to Malta. The operation will be completed by August 12.

The Philippine Rapid Response Team (RRT) is making arrangements for accommodation in Malta and flights to the Philippines.”

“Accommodation, particularly, poses a challenge to the RRT in Malta considering that the country at this time is at the peak of the tourist season,” explained Baldoz, who also said that a travel agency executive estimated that it may take two weeks to complete airline bookings on a commercial flight for a thousand passengers.

“We have RRT personnel in Malta led by Consul General Leila Lora-Santos who are providing assistance at the Malta airport of Luqa, at the Valleta seaport, and at the hotels,” said Baldoz, who also thanked Filipino priest Fr. Aldrin Alvarado who had accommodated more than 50 OFWs in his chapel in Malta.