Ambassador Lopez visits Filipinos in Tokyo relocation center

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez visited the first batch of Filipinos fetched by the Embassy team in Fukushima prefecture at the Franciscan Chapel in Roponggi, Tokyo Saturday evening, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The DFA said the Filipinos expressed their desire to be relocated to Tokyo from their respective homes in Fukushima prefecture in light of the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami which struck the northeastern region of Japan.

Ambassador Lopez checked on the condition of the Filipinos and listened to their experiences in Fukushima when the area was hit by the twin disasters, the DFA said in a statement.

The Embassy’s five consular missions were able to relocate a total of 139 Filipino nationals. The Filipinos are now temporarily housed at a Catholic Church in Kichijogi, the Lighthouse Ministry in Yokohama City, the Franciscan Church in Roppongi in Tokyo and at the Wesley Center at Minami Aoyama.

Lopez stated that the Embassy will send more buses to Fukushima, if necessary.

“We are fully committed to remain here to serve the needs of Filipinos in Japan,” Lopez stated.