The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported on Tuesday, Sept. 20, that there are no overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) among the listed casualties during the onslaught of super typhoon “Nanmadol” in the southernmost of Japan.
More or less nine million people in Japan have been evacuated from their homes at the height of the storm.
DMW Secretary Susan Ople directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to be ready to extend assistance to OFWs in Japan and Taiwan who were also ravaged by a magnitude 6.6 tremor on Sunday.
In a report to the Secretary, POLO-Osaka said some 13,904 OFWs under its jurisdiction have been accounted for and are unharmed and safe.
The POLO-Osaka also posted on its social media to call on OFWs to coordinate with the Philippine officials regarding their whereabouts and physical condition after the typhoon lambasted almost southernmost of the region.
“The POLO-Osaka also reports they were in contact with most of the employers and supervising agencies of the OFWs in the Kyushu area whom they instructed to continue monitoring the status of OFWs there,” said Ople in a statement.
Of the 13,904 OFWs covered by POLO-Osaka, 5,368 are in Fukuoka, 660 in Saga, 1,001 in Nagasaki, 2,520 in Kumamoto, 1,607 in Oita, 786 in Miyazaki, and 1,962 in Kagoshima.
While in POLO-Tokyo, the DMW said it has not received any requests for assistance as of Monday evening.
The POLO advisory, however, reminded OFWs, employers, and recruitment agencies to immediately report any typhoon-related incident involving OFWs.
There are 22,000 OFWs under POLO-Tokyo’s jurisdiction.
Filipino workers needing assistance in Japan may contact the following helplines:
POLO- Tokyo
Welfare Hotline
(WelOf Nico Herrera)
+81 70 3630 0167
POLO- Osaka
LabAtt Elizabeth Estrada
+81 70 2275 6083
WelOf Pilipina Dino
+81 70 2447 4014
Welfare Hotline (Dahnia Domado)
+ 81 70 2447 4016
Verification Hotline (Marina Mori Alvez)
+ 81 70 2275 6082
Meanwhile, the three POLOs in Taiwan reported no injuries or casualties among OFWs in the magnitude 6.6 earthquake that occurred on Sunday.
Ople also instructed the labor officials here to continue working with government authorities and remain connected with Filipino communities, representatives, and area coordinators.
Taiwan was struck by a massive 6.6 magnitude earthquake Sunday. Hardest hit by the tremor was Hualien County where there are 1,400 OFWs.
Other counties that suffered damage from the quake are: Yilan, Nantou, and Taitung.
OFWs in need of assistance and information may contact the DMW through the following hotlines and social media sites:
TAIPEI:
Mobile: +886 932 218 057
Facebook / Messenger: POLO Taipei
TAICHUNG:
Mobile: +886 966 537 732
Facebook / Messenger: Meco Polo Taichung
KAOHSIUNG:
Mobile: +886 988 976 596
Facebook / Messenger: Meco Polo Owwa Kaohsiung