MANILA – Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed psolidarity with Japan on Tuesday after the country was hit by a massive7.6 earthquake. Marcos assured the public that the government is taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Japan.
In a statement, Marcos expressed his deep sadness about the earthquake on New Year’s Day, stating, “We are deeply saddened to hear of the magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Japan on New Year’s Day. We are in close collaboration with the Japanese government to secure the welfare of our kababayans, who thankfully remain unharmed.”
He further emphasized the Philippines’ readiness to provide assistance, saying, “We have made the offer to assist in any way that we can. 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.”
According to the Philippine Embassy in Japan, no Filipinos have been reported killed or injured during the earthquake.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) OIC Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac stated that his department is closely monitoring the situation of Filipino workers in Japan, particularly in Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures. In these prefectures, there are a total of 1,194 Filipinos, with 469 in Ishikawa and 725 in Toyama. Around 90 percent of these Filipino workers are engaged in the manufacturing, welding, and carpentry sectors, while approximately 10 percent work as 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 has been suspended or ceased due to the quake,” Cacdac assured.
The 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s central Ishikawa prefecture on New Year’s Day, resulting in casualties, injuries, and power outages for thousands of households. Japan’s Meteorological Agency promptly issued a tsunami warning along western coastal regions, with initial reports of waves hitting the coast just over 10 minutes later. Tsunami waves of up to 1.2 meters were reported in various areas along Japan’s western coast. However, all tsunami advisories were later lifted by Japanese authorities. (Presidential News Desk)
