(Xinhua photo)
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Thursday that three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan were hurt in the powerful earthquake that hit the island early Wednesday morning.
During a press briefing, DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the three OFWs sustained minor injuries and are now safe.
“There are three reported injuries, no fatalities, no major injuries to Filipinos and we hope it stays that way,” Cacdac said.
He said two of them reside and work in Taoyuan, on the Taipei County side, while the other one is from Yilan County, which is adjacent to Hualien, where the earthquake epicenter was located.
He said one of the victims bore a minor head injury when debris from the ceiling hit him, while a female OFW had swollen hands when they slammed into a door. Both were briefly hospitalized and discharged.
Meanwhile, Cacdac said the third victim fainted, probably from stress, but did not sustain any major injury.
He said the victim is still in the hospital for medical precautionary measures only, and expressed hope that she will soon be discharged.
Meanwhile, Cacdac said the three victims will receive action fund assistance, and psycho-social counseling if needed.
Psycho-social counseling is also available to all OFWs in Taiwan affected by the earthquake
Cacdac said it was fortunate that the earthquake struck the central eastern side of Taiwan, far from the areas where most OFWs work and live.
However, he said around 5,000 Filipinos are in the area where the earthquake struck, with around 1,400 in Hualien County.
He said DMW is in close coordination with Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Chairperson Silvestre Bello III and his team, regarding assistance that will be provided to the OFWs.
On Wednesday, the DMW activated its 24/7 Taiwan Quake Help Desk for OFWs and their families.
The Philippine-based 24/7 Help Desk may be reached through hotline numbers 8522-3663 / 8376-6352 / 8426-0833 / 8293-9155 / 8252-1972; mobile numbers +63 919 067 3975, or via email at [email protected].
Taiwan hotline numbers are +886 932-218-057 in Taipei; +886 988-976-596 in Kaohsiung; and +886 966-537-732 in Taichung.
As of Wednesday, Cacdac said they have received calls asking about the situation of their relatives who are based in Taiwan.
Data from the Taiwan Ministry of Labor show that as of February 2024, there are 159,480 Filipinos in Taiwan, 150,666 of whom are OFWs. (PNA)
