Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday, March 31 urged the Philippine missions to account for all Filipinos in earthquake-hit Myanmar and Thailand and ensure that all possible help is extended to them.

Escudero said it is imperative for the Philippine embassies in Yangon and Bangkok to stay on top of the situation in their respective areas of jurisdiction and be ready to provide whatever assistance may be needed by the Filipinos working, living or visiting there.

“We still have Filipinos unaccounted for up to now and as such we should exert greater efforts to locate them at the soonest possible time,” Escudero said.

“Once the dust has settled and the rescue operations have concluded, we must have a full accounting of the Filipinos who may have been affected by the earthquake and extend every possible assistance as necessary, including psychosocial support for the survivors,” the veteran legislator said.

“We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the governments of Myanmar and Thailand and most especially to the families who lost their loved ones to the devastating earthquake,” the Senate leader added.

Escudero noted both countries have been gracious hosts to overseas FIlipino workers (OFWs) over a long period of time.

“And as fellow members of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), we consider them as more than just neighbors, but part of our community of nations,” he added.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, echoed the Senate leader’s call, urging the Departments of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Migrant Workers (DMW), in particular, to act swiftly and to exhaust all means to account, assist and secure affected Filipinos following the magnitude 7.7 quake.

Go, one of the authors and a co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 11641 that created the DMW, emphasized that protecting OFWs in times of crisis must be treated as an urgent national concern.

“Kapag may sakuna sa ibang bansa, hindi puwedeng umasa lang tayo sa impormasyon mula doon. Dapat tayo mismo ang kumikilos, tumatawag, at sumusundo kung kinakailangan (When there is a disaster in another country, we cannot just rely on information from there. We must take action ourselves, call, and pick up when necessary),” Go said.

“Buhay ng kababayan natin ang nakataya (the lives of our fellowmen are at stake),” reminded Go.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega earlier said four Filipinos in Myanmar have yet to be located.

Two of them—a married couple—supposedly lived in a residential building in Mandalay that collapsed during the quake. All four are said to be professionals—teachers or office workers.

The earthquake, which has already claimed more than 1,600 lives in Myanmar, triggered an international humanitarian response.

Go, known for his long-standing advocacy for OFWs, said government action must be proactive and immediate.

“Obligasyon natin ito sa bawat kababayan natin nasaan man sila sa mundo (It is our obligation to each of our citizen wherever they are in the world),” he stressed.