By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed yesterday that he would meet with capitol representative for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) Sally Barrios in order to discuss the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

According to Lacson, Negros Occidental has a vibrant OFW community and he described Barrios as helpful in connecting the OFW community to the provincial government.

“I will coordinate with Ms. Barrios to discuss the latest potential crisis in Ukraine,” Lacson said.

The governor, however, did not affirm if he will set up a help desk for Negrenses who are currently working in Ukraine, although the provincial government may likely set up a help desk depending on the outcome of his meeting with Barrios.

Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged OFWs in Ukraine to evacuate following threats of a potential Russian invasion of the country.

The Ukraine crisis stemmed over the country’s plans to enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which was opposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia has already deployed thousands of soldiers and tanks in Ukraine’s neighboring country Belarus, as well as near the pro-Russian Donbass and Luhansk regions which had been fighting to separate from Ukraine since 2014./DGB, WDJ