By Junex Doronio

MANILA — As the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) extended assistance to the affected migrant workers, the number of injured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) now increased to 15.

This was revealed on Thursday (11 April 2024) by DMW Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Hans Cacdac who said most of the affected OFWs were in Hualien in the northeastern seaboard of Taiwan which was the epicenter of the earthquake, while some were in the adjacent county called Yilan.

“Labinlima, all with minor injuries and all out of harm’s way, all out of hospital kaya’t sa kani-kanilang mga lugar na sila, mga dormitories and other places na sila napuntahan at nabigyan ng ayuda,” Cacdac said in a televised briefing.

He also disclosed that they were given medical assistance, psychosocial counseling, as well as financial aid under the AKSYON (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan) Fund ng DMW.

“And rest assured, we’re monitoring their situation until, of course, iyong malaman na natin iyong lahat ng mga nangangailangan ng tulong. Mismong sa Hualien iyan eh, nagtungo iyong ating team, iyong epicenter, at doon namahagi ng assistance,” the DMW top official said.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Philippine government stands ready to assist Filipinos in Taiwan following the strong earthquake that struck the island.

“We are prepared to support and aid our fellow Filipinos in Taiwan in any way possible during this challenging period,” stated President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (April 3, 2024).

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is diligently ensuring the safety of the 159,480 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) currently residing in Taiwan, he added.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Taiwan as they cope with the aftermath of today’s powerful earthquake,” the Chief Executive expressed.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that no Filipinos were harmed in the 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — So far, no one from among the 150,000 Filipinos in Taiwan, including the 66,475 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), was reported injured or dead following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Taipei on Wednesday (3 April 2024) morning.

In Hualien where a building reportedly collapsed, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) deputy resident representative Alice Visperas said no one from the more than 5,000 Filipinos based there was among the casualties.

“Sa awa ng Diyos ay maayos naman ang ating mga kababayan. Wala pa tayong reported as of now na any injuries or casualties among Filipinos, as reported by our Filipino community leaders,” Visperas said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

“Based on our monitoring in Taipei and the reports from our field offices in Taichung and Kaohsiung, and the reports coming from our Filipino communities in Taiwan, there are no Filipino casualties or injuries in the aftermath of the earthquake and the aftershocks,” MECO chairman Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III also said in a statement.

For its part, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said in its Facebook post that it is monitoring the situation of OFWs in Taiwan following the earthquake.

“The Taiwan MWOs (Migrant Workers’ Offices) are prepared to provide immediate assistance to affected OFWs as necessary,” the DMW said.

(el Amigo/MNM)

MANILA — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has issued a warning of potential tsunami threats and initiated evacuations in coastal regions nationwide following a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake in neighboring Taiwan.

In an advisory issued by the state seismology institute, residents in coastal areas of multiple provinces facing Taiwan are strongly urged to evacuate to higher ground or move inland immediately.

Coastal regions spanning 23 provinces across the country, excluding the capital Manila, are anticipated to encounter significant tsunami waves according to tsunami wave models.

The onset of the first tsunami waves is predicted between 0033 GMT and 0233 GMT, with the possibility of continued wave activity for several hours. Boat owners in harbors, estuaries, or shallow coastal waters within the mentioned provinces are advised to secure their vessels and relocate away from the waterfront.

For those already at sea during this period, it is recommended to remain offshore in deeper waters until further instructions are provided.

(By el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — In an unprecedented move, China has filed a diplomatic protest – before the Philippine embassies in Beijing and Manila – over President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s congratulatory message to Taiwan’s president-elect Dr. Lai Ching-te.

It was not immediately known if this was the first that China filed a diplomatic protest against the Philippines. Still, since Marcos Jr. assumed power in June 2022, the Philippines has filed at least 130 protests against China owing to the latter’s alleged encroachment on PH’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

“President Marcos is the only head of State to congratulate Lai among 182 countries which established diplomatic relations with China,” the Chinese Embassy in Manila noted on Wednesday.

In a statement, the embassy spokesman said Marcos’ remarks “seriously violate the ‘One China’ principle, and constitute an act of gross interference in China’s internal affairs.”

China Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Mao Ning also disclosed that Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong on Tuesday (January 16) summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz “to lodge serious démarche and urge the Philippines to present a responsible response to China.”

Démarche is a political step or initiative.

“We suggest President Marcos read more to develop a proper understanding of the ins and outs of the Taiwan question and come to a right conclusion,” Mao said in a briefing.

The Chinese embassy also stressed: “China strongly opposes such remarks, and has made immediate and solemn démarches to the Philippines from both Beijing and Manila.”

“There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China,” it emphasized.

(El Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Saying that the Philippines has violated the “One China principle”, China has summoned the Philippine ambassador after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. congratulated Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching-te and remarked that he looked forward to having “close collaboration” with him.

China’s capital Beijing has long considered the democratically-run and pro-US Taiwan as its “renegade province” and intends to reclaim it, by force if necessary.

“We are telling the Philippine side not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue… and to stop immediately its wrongful words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues and sending wrong signals to separatist forces for Taiwan independence,” China foreign affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said.

She pointed out that PBBM’s remarks “are a serious violation of the One China Principle… a serious breach of the political commitments made by the Philippines to the Chinese side, and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs.”

However, the Philippines has reaffirmed its “One China policy” even after Marcos Jr congratulated Taiwan’s Lai.

Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that this may provoke China to take more aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) since Beijing does not maintain diplomatic ties with countries that recognize Taiwan.

(el Amigo/MNM)