THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Thursday that it has yet to receive any request for repatriation as it closely monitors the situation of thousands of Filipinos in Taiwan and Japan, which were both jolted by strong earthquakes in the past two days.
In a virtual briefing, DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac said there are 1,400 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hualien county, the epicenter of the 7.2-magnitude quake that struck Taiwan on Wednesday morning.
About 5,000 Filipinos were affected by the tremor, but three were reported to have been slightly hurt. “The epicenter of the earthquake is far from where a majority of OFWs are (Northern part of Taipei),” Mr. Cacdac said.
Meanwhile, Japan was also struck with a 6.0 magnitude earthquake on Thursday off the coast of Fukushima prefecture.
The DMW said it has activated its protocols, particularly in Tokyo and Osaka, to provide any assistance necessary to Filipinos affected by the quake.
As aftershocks continue to rattle both Taiwan and Japan, the Philippine government advised OFWs there to stay updated on safety advisories and to coordinate with the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate for any assistance required. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
