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Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V gives updates on the Situation of Filipinos in Japan at PCCO’s #LagingHandaPH Public Briefing

03 June 2021 – Speaking via a live telecast on the People’s Television Channel 4 (PTV 4), Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V assured the public of the readiness of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, including the Philippine Consulates General in Osaka and in Nagoya, to assist all Filipinos in Japan and in ensuring that their needs are being attended to during this time of the pandemic.

Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V speaks at a live telecast interview by PTV 4 for #LagingHandPH on 03 June 2021.

Ambassador Laurel said that while Japan is under the State of Emergency, particularly in the Prefectures of Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido, Aichi, Kyoto, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Okinawa, Filipinos in Japan are pretty much living a very normal life and that they adhere to the protocols and guidelines set by the Government.

He reported that since the beginning of the pandemic, there is only one (1) recorded fatality among the members of the Filipino community in Japan and expressed his hopes that the number will not change.

Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V speaks at a live telecast interview by PTV 4 for #LagingHandPH on 03 June 2021.

On the vaccination program of the Government of Japan, Ambassador Laurel explained that the inoculation is underway and further assured that all Filipinos in Japan will be covered by this program, including those of the members of the diplomatic corps. He expressed his gratitude to the Japanese Government for graciously extending free vaccines for all its residents, locals and foreigners.

The Ambassador shared that the Tokyo Olympic Games are still scheduled to begin on 23 July 2021. The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) and the Government of Japan recognize the importance of ensuring COVID-19 countermeasures during the holding of the Games. As such, participating delegations, including the athletes and their staff, will be moving in a “bubble,” with no interaction with the public, even with officials of the Embassy. On 31 May 2021, Australia’s softball team became the first foreign athletes to land in Japan for the Tokyo Olympics.

The #LagingHandaPH is a platform initiated by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to give timely and accurate information on the government’s COVID-19 response. It is aired Mondays to Saturdays on PTV-4.