The Department of Foreign Affairs today assured the public that contingency measures are in place in case the People Democratic Republic of Korea makes good its threat to fire missiles towards Guam. 

In a statement, the Department said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano was on the phone with Ambassador Raul Hernandez in Seoul and Consul General Marciano de Borja in Agana to request updates on the situation in their respective areas of jurisdiction. 

The Department said both Ambassador Hernandez and Consul General De Borja have given their assurances that their respective contingency plans for the Filipino Community are in place in case the situation in the Korean Peninsula escalates further.

The Department, at the same time, said Secretary Cayetano echoed President Rodrigo Duterte's calls for both the United States and the DPRK to exercise restraint and to take the necessary steps to avoid a further escalation of the situation. 

There are approximately 65,000 Filipinos in South Korea and another 42,835 in Guam.