MANILA/TOKYO – The Philippines stands ready to extend help to Japan in the aftermath of the destructive magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck central Japan on New Year’s Day.
As of Thursday night, the death toll has reached 84, with Ishikawa Prefecture being the hardest-hit area.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed the country’s solidarity, stating on X, “We have made the offer to assist in any way that we can.”
He added, “In the face of shared climate challenges within the Pacific Ring of Fire, we stand united with Japan and stay ready to provide support from the Philippines.”
Marcos Jr. assured that the Philippine government is actively communicating with its Japanese counterpart to ensure the safety of Filipinos residing and working in Japan.
“We are in close collaboration with the Japanese government to secure the welfare of our kababayans, who thankfully remain unharmed,” he emphasized.
The Philippine Embassy in Japan said that no Filipino has been killed or hurt during the earthquake.
“We continue to monitor the welfare of Filipinos in the affected areas, and call on them to follow local government advice and guidance,” Ambassador Mylene Garcia-Albado said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac reported that the agency is closely monitoring the situation of Filipino workers in the Land of the Rising Sun, specifically in Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures.
Cacdac said a total of 1,194 Filipinos reside in these two prefectures, with 469 in Ishikawa and 725 in Toyama. He added that approximately 90 percent of Filipino workers in these areas are employed in the manufacturing, welding, and carpentry sectors. A smaller percentage, around 10 percent, consists of caregivers.
“We are monitoring the employment situation of OFWs, especially in the Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures. We will provide financial assistance to OFWs whose employment have been suspended or ceased due to the quake,” he assured. - Florenda Corpuz
