Kababayans from Irma-Hit BVI Arrive in Puerto Rico
Atty. Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga, Vice Chair of the Crisis Management Team of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. welcomes the 4th batch of Filipino nationals from the British Virgin Islands who arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico today, 17 September 2017.
18 September 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippine Government Response Team reported to Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter S. Cayetano that 90 individuals who availed themselves of the Government’s repatriation program were airlifted from Irma-hit British Virgin Islands (BVI) to San Juan, Puerto Rico today, 17 September 2017.
On board Air Sunshine flights, the repatriates arrived in eight batches, with the first batch arriving at 11:00 AM and the last batch arriving in San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport at 6:30 PM. Twenty-two (22) more are expected to arrive tomorrow.
The Response Team composed of the Philippine Embassy and POLO-OWWA in Washington, D.C. worked in small groups to ensure that the Filipinos were met and briefed at the airport, transported to the designated hotel, and given meals before checking-in to their respective rooms.
Consul Katrina Borja-Martin, Secretariat Head of the Crisis Management Team of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. also arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico today to support the operations and ensure the proper documentation of all Filipinos for repatriation.
The team further reported to Secretary Cayetano that the two-member response team deployed to Anguilla yesterday successfully completed the relief good distribution to approximately 60 Filipino nationals who were affected by Hurricane Irma on the said island.
Filipinos who volunteered to be evacuated from Anguilla were also briefed on the scenario and details of their departure tomorrow, 18 September 2017, for San Juan, Puerto Rico where they will join the group from BVI and the kababayans scheduled to arrive from Sint Maarten.
From Puerto Rico, the repatriates from the three islands will catch the chartered flight to the Philippines.
Those who want to share or find information about the condition of their family members and friends in the abovementioned places may reach the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. through the following contact information:
- Emergency hotline: +1 (202) 368 2767
- Email addresses: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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