WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippine Government Response Team reported to Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano that the remaining 23 Filipino nationals on the British Virgin Islands together with nine (9) and 17 kababayans from Anguilla and Sint Maarten, respectively, arrived safely in San Juan, Puerto Rico today, 18 September 2017.
The repatriates from the three islands are housed in one hotel in San Juan, under the purview of the Government’s Response Team. A total of 131 are awaiting the scheduled flight to the Philippines on 19 September 2017.
Atty. Jose Victor Chan Gonzaga, Vice Chair of the Crisis Management Team of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. also met with the representatives from the GMD Airline Services Puerto Rico and Philippine Airlines Airport Services Manager Rene Vicente Serquiña to finalize the ground procedures and administrative arrangements for the chartered flight.
The response team also reported to Secretary Cayetano that all measures were taken to ensure that medical assistance were given to two (2) pregnant women and two (2) children from BVI who are housed in the hotel. Meals are also prepared and provided to everyone.
Furthermore, OWWA Welfare Officer Petrona Bergado, who is a member of the response team, was able to discuss reintegration assistance and options to concerned repatriates.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. is continuously monitoring Hurricane Maria that has been upgraded to Category 5 and set to again hit the Caribbean islands and approach Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Tuesday night, 19 September, same date as the chartered flight to the Philippines.
The Embassy strongly reiterates its advice to the Filipino communities along Maria’s path to prepare as best as they can, follow the directives of local authorities, and track the storm’s progress.
Filipinos who may require assistance may reach the Philippine Embassy through the following contact information:
- Emergency hotline: +1 (202) 368 2767
- Email addresses: consular@phembassy-us.org / atn@phembassy-us.org
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/philippinesusa
- Twitter: @philippinesusa