Filipinos urged to avail of relief assistance
Filipinos on Saipan affected by Typhoon Soudelor are urged to seek for relief that is being made available to the community.
“To our kababayans, try to avail of the relief being provided by FEMA and other agencies,” Honorary Consul to the Philippines Glicerio “Eli” Arago said.
“I encourage them to apply for whatever relief is available from the agencies that are providing assistance,” he added.
Arago said that everyone is welcome to apply and that “there’s nothing wrong for them to try.”
“FEMA will screen everything and then they will ask information. Even if they get denied, if you have communication with them they might reconsider,” Arago said.
Arago said his office is open to help those who need assistance in their applications, particularly in explaining how the process goes. He also encouraged Filipino organizations to do the same.
“Those who have access to the Internet can help those who don’t have access,” he said.
Consular outreach postponed
Arago added that the mobile outreach of the Guam Consulate General that was supposed to start yesterday on Saipan may probably push through next month. The Tinian leg of the outreach was also deferred.
“We don’t know the exact date,” Arago said.
According to him, it depends on the recovery of the island. He said it’s hard to hold the outreach now as there is limited space and no power supply and some Filipinos also got displaced.
Rice and water donations
Last Sunday, Arago, together with the United Filipino Organizations, gave out rice and water to Filipino families who are in need.
Arago said he as well as UFO and Bayani Association donated $500 each while the Philippine Consulate in Guam gave $2,000 for the relief effort.
UFO president Bong Malasarte said they were able to give 466 1-lb bags of rice to Filipino households on the island.
With the help of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), they were also able to give out one-gallon water to each household.
“We went around Saipan and sought those who really need help,” Malasarte said.
He said that even though their organization is not really for giving relief, they tried their best to help out, not just to Filipinos but also other families that needed help.
Maybe the Phil. Govt. in the Philippines will notice that help is being given to other than US Cit. as the Phil. Govt has stated that “not one peso will be given to help any foreigner in the Phil” during the last (and all) major Typhoon that destroyed most of Laete and Cebu areas.
This during the relief operations by the many branches of the US Military and other foreign nations.
Also many foreign nations donated money and supplies to help rebuild the destroyed areas. (many later pulling out as it was not getting done and the materials and money was not going to where it was supposed too.
Much containers also sat on the Manila docks and rotted along with medical supplies while much was also taken by public officials.