No OFW Casualty in Joso City, Japan Flood

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said no Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) had died or was hurt in the flood that swept last week the city of Joso in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

Citing the report of Labor Attaché Ma. Luz L. Talento of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Tokyo, Secretary Baldoz said there was no OFW casualty in the tropical storm-induced heavy flooding that hit the Joso City, north of Tokyo.

Labor Attaché Talento said they have been calling early this week the supervising organizations and companies employing Filipinos, but none reported damage sustained by their workers.

They requested the information through an advisory to monitor Filipino workers affected by the recent flooding in Joso, as well as by the earthquake that also hit Tokyo last Saturday.

“That good news brings comfort to us, especially to the families of our OFWs who must have been worried when reports of the flooding came in. We thank God that our OFWs there are safe,” Baldoz said.

Labor Attaché Talento also informed that the flooded area is rather small. She added that Japan boasts of an excellent disaster preparedness.

The Philippine Embassy in Japan conducted relief operations early this week in Joso City and was able to reach 97 Filipinos, including children.

Reports from international news networks, citing interviews from the locals, described the Joso city flood as “fast moving and took many by surprise.”

Source: www.dole.gov.ph