Embassy Convoy to Bring Relief Goods Anew to Filipinos in Fukushima
The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that a new consular mission traveled early Sunday morning to bring relief goods to Filipino communities in Fukushima prefecture in the light of the nuclear emergency resulting from the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country last March 11.
The consular mission will also inform the Filipino community in Fukushima on the latest developments after the March 11 twin-disasters, on available resources that may help them in assessing their situation, and on Embassy efforts in promoting their welfare.
The consular mission, which left Tokyo 10 April 2011 at 6:30 a.m., will visit four locations in Fukushima.
The first Embassy team headed by Consul General Sulpicio Confiado and his wife, Mrs. Precie Confiado, Trade Officer Dayday Kawasaki and wife Shigeyuki, Fr. Nilo Tanalega, S.J. and Philippine Assistance Group Chairman Joseph Banal will meet with the Filipino community in Sukagawa at the Sukagawa Catholic Church in the morning.
From Sukagawa, the team will proceed to Funehiki Town in Tamura City to meet with the Filipino community there Sunday afternoon.
There are some 106 Filipinos in Sukagawa while Tamura City is home to some 35 Filipinos.
The second Embassy team headed by Minister Gina Jamoralin, Vice Consul Ryan Pondoc and Defense Attache Innocencio Silbol, Sr. Celeste Yuson, RGF and Bro. Jomari Manzano, S.J will visit the Filipino community of Marumori in the morning.
The team will meet with some 50 Filipinos there at the Marumori-Machizukuri Center near Marumori Town Hall.
From Marumori, they will proceed to Fukushima City to meet some Filipinos there at the Fukushima International Association in the afternoon.
There are some some 392 Filipinos in Fukushima City.
The Embassy teams brought with them relief goods consisting of food packs, rice, canned goods, bottled water, blankets and other relief items.
The Embassy teams are expected to return to Tokyo late evening of Sunday.
Earlier, the Embassy reported that there are no Filipinos hurt in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures which were hit by aftershocks following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake last Thursday in the northeast region of Japan.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez said the Embassy will continue to intensify its efforts to assist Filipinos in the affected areas, including bringing food and other supplies.
