LOS ANGELES, CA — As wildfires continue to burn in California, the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles visited the Pasadena Evacuation Center, where many Filipino families are seeking shelter after losing their homes.
Helping Filipino Families
The Consulate is working closely with the Filipino community to understand how many Filipino citizens have been affected by the fires. They are also checking on families who lost their homes, some of whom are being sheltered by their Filipino friends and relatives.
At this time, the Consulate has not been able to provide an exact number of Filipino victims. The Los Angeles authorities have also been unable to give the exact number of Filipinos affected by the wildfires.
“We are continuing to reach out to local authorities and Filipino-American groups to get more details,” said the Consulate’s Public Diplomacy and Information Section. “We are ready to provide help, following the rules and laws in place.”
Calls for Help from Affected Filipinos
Filipino families have asked for help after the wildfires destroyed their homes and belongings. Some have lost everything, and their stories have touched many people’s hearts.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also stated that they are ready to assist Filipinos in need. DFA Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito Cruz shared on a radio interview, “We’ve been trying to contact our kababayans (countrymen) in all possible ways… Many of our fellow Filipinos are under mandatory evacuation.”
Cruz added that only three Filipino families had reached out to the Philippine government for help so far. He believes many of the affected Filipinos are staying with their relatives in Los Angeles, which is why there haven’t been more requests for help.
Help from the Local Community
Over three million Filipinos live in California, and local organizations and churches are providing aid and support to those affected by the wildfires. Many families have opened their homes to those who had to evacuate.
Efforts to Keep People Safe
The National Guard is helping the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to keep the areas under mandatory evacuation safe from looters. Curfews have been set in places that have been burned or are still burning. The authorities are doing everything they can to protect both the people and their homes.
The Consulate continues to work hard to make sure that Filipinos in need receive the help and support they deserve during this difficult time.
