THE Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday acknowledged the difficulty in getting updated information on Filipinos affected by the deadly wildfires that hit the town of Lahaina in Maui, Hawaii.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Jose Eduardo de Vega said they are trying to get updated information on the number of Filipinos affected by the conflagration or if they are included in the missing or fatalities.
They still cannot determine how many Filipino citizens are affected since the police authorities have yet to provide the names or ethnicity of the missing and those who have perished. We are still waiting for the information,” he said, adding: “The consulate is looking at how to help identify those affected. We cannot do it yet since Maui authorities are still cleaning up the area.”
De Vega said Filipinos who have lost contact with their relatives in Maui, particularly in Lahaina, can contact the emergency hotline at +18082539446 for additional information.
In a related development, the DFA said it does not expect Filipinos in Maui to seek repatriation to Manila despite the massive devastation brought by the wildfires.
DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said most of the Filipinos in Maui are already permanent residents, making them unlikely to seek repatriation to Manila.
“Since they live in the United States, and they have the US government assisting them, it’s unlikely that they will ask for repatriation,” he added.
Cortes added that in his conversation with officials of the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce, they told him most Filipinos whose homes were razed by the wildfires have been evacuated to shelters.
He said the DFA will assist any Philippine passport holders who may wish to be temporarily evacuated to Manila or those who may want to stay for good.
Cortes later said it is probable that at least one person with Filipino blood may have been among those affected by the wildfires.
DFA data showed there are around 25, 000 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans living and/or working in Maui.
