There are still no plans for now to implement a ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Hong Kong, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

“Not yet. Wala pa naman (There is no) advice (yet) from DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs). Of course, may (there is an) advisory addressed not necessarily to OFWs, who plan to go there, to discourage them from proceeding there for the meantime,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an interview.

Bello was referring to those who are planning to go on trips to the Chinese autonomous region for leisure and other non-essential purposes.

“Kung maaring i-postpone muna yung kanilang mga trips kasi hindi natin masiguro ang situation doon (If possible, they should postpone their trips because we cannot assure the situation there),” Bello added.

With only over 2 months to go before Christmas, Bello said it is up for OFWs if they want to leave in the country or go back to their jobs in the former British colony.

He, however, reiterated his call to Filipinos working there not to join mass actions and stay away from places where rallies are being held.

“Ang importante lang naman doon (What is important there) is the usual. That they don’t wear black and white. They do not join protest actions,” Bello added.

Tension continues to escalate in the island as residents continue to hold protests despite the scrapping of a proposal that would have allowed extraditions of criminal suspects to mainland China.

Protester stormed and vandalized mass transit facilities, which earlier led to a suspension of its operations for a few days. (PNA)