A March 30, 2011 press release prepared by the Department of Foreign AffairsThe Philippine Embassy in Tokyo reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez is leading the most recent consular mission of the Embassy and is now in Sendai City to personally check on the conditions of the Filipinos in the area and to bring relief goods to them in the light of the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami which struck the northeastern region of Japan.
Ambassador Lopez left Tokyo early morning of Wednesday. He arrived in Sendai City at around 10 in the morning (Japan time) today.
Consul General Sulpicio Confiado, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Ryan Pondoc, DFA Office of the Secretary Principal Assistant Andre Peter Estanislao and Defense Attache Col. Chito Silbol accompanied the Ambassador in Sendai City.
The team brought with them 100 plastic bags of relief goods, 50 futons and blankets, 50 cases of bottled water and other relief items.
Ambassador Lopez and the Embassy team will visit Wakabayashi this morning, one of the coastal towns hit by the twin disasters, to gain first-hand information of the damage caused by the earthquake and the tsunami. There are about 31 Filipinos in Wakabayashi.
He will also meet with the Filipino community at the Sendai International Center (SIC) lobby later today to discuss the condition of the Filipinos in the area and to ascertain other assistance needed by the community.
There are some 70 members of the Filipino community who are expected to attend the meeting.
SIC is temporarily closed due to the recent earthquake and tsunami. However, SIC officials gave their permission to the Embassy team to use the lobby as venue for the meeting.
After the meeting, Ambassador Lopez will lead the Embassy team in distributing the relief goods to the Filipinos.
Ambassador Lopez and the Embassy team will travel back to Tokyo and are expected to arrive there late evening of Wednesday.
Ambassador Lopez stated that the Embassy will maintain its policy of fetching Filipinos in hard-hit areas if they need help or if they express their desires to be relocated to Tokyo.
He said the Embassy will continue to intensify its efforts to locate and assist Filipinos in the affected areas, including bringing food and other supplies. Ambassador Lopez likewise stated that the Philippines stands ready to assist in Japan’s reconstruction efforts.
The Philippine Embassy will also continue to ensure the safety and will stay to serve the needs of Filipinos in Japan.
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