“Bayanihan Sa Bayou” Assists J1 Visa Holders in Louisiana Affected by COVID-19

Members of the Filipino-American community in Louisiana handle out much needed grocery supplies to stranded J1 visa holders throughout the city of New Orleans. (Houston PCG photos)

HOUSTON 22 April 2020 — The Philippine Consulate General in Houston and the Philippine Consulate in New Orleans coordinated with the Filipino-American Community in Louisiana in assisting a total of 51 Filipino J1 Visa Holders whose internship or training programs in various hotels and restaurants in Louisiana were cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the “Bayanihan sa Bayou,” which was organized by various Filipino-Amrican Community in Louisiana, namely, Association of Fil-Am Cares of Louisiana, Filipino-American Association of St. Tammany, Kapitbahay of Greater New Orleans, New Orleans Filipino American Lions Club, New Orleans Asian American Lions Club, Philippine American United Council of Louisiana, Philippine American Women's Association of Louisiana , Filipino Catholic Ministry of New Orleans, Filipino teachers and nurses and concerned individuals, grocery items and other essentials were brought to Filipino J1 visa holders residing in rented apartments or accommodations in the city of New Orleans on 18 and 19 April 2020.

New Orleans has one of the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the US, with 6,000 confirmed positive cases and 329 deaths. END

Filipino Trainees/interns under the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) or J1 visa holders receive assistance from the Filipino-American community in Louisiana through the  “Bayanihan sa Bayou” project.

For more information, visit https://www.houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHinHouston/.