MANILA -- The Philippine Consulate General in Agana, Guam has distributed relief assistance to at least 600 Filipinos in Saipan affected by Typhoon Yutu, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Saturday.
A two-man team from the Consulate, Vice Consul Alex Vallespin and Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Officer Juliet Simbul, has been on the ground in Saipan since Thursday to look into the situation of the 15,000 members of the Filipino community there, including those staying in temporary shelters after their homes were destroyed or damaged by the typhoon.
In addition to Filipinos in Saipan, the government will be assisting Filipinos in other parts of the Northern Marianas also adversely affected by Typhoon Yutu when it swept through the islands early in the week.
The DFA, through Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato, said the Consulate will be sending teams to the islands of Tinian and Rota, which were also devastated by the storm. There are an estimated 600 Filipinos in Tinian and another 300 in Rota.
Consul General Marciano De Borja, for his part, extended the agency's appreciation to authorities in Saipan for the assistance extended to affected members of the Filipino Community there.
He also acknowledged the financial assistance extended to the affected Filipinos by hotel owner Jerry Tan.
The Consulate General in Agana, Guam also covers Caroline Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau and Wake Islands. (PNA)
