NEW YORK— Manila has called on the US government to approve its request for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), allowing undocumented Filipinos living in the US to help the Philippines rebuild from the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
In letters to Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario—who sent the letters dated Sept. 22, 2014—stressed the importance of the TPS request, saying its approval would not only alleviate difficulties for eligible Filipinos in the US, but would also greatly ease the strain on the country’s infrastructure and resources.
“I take this opportunity to once again reiterate the Philippine government’s request for US government’s immediate positive consideration of the request,” Del Rosario said.
The letters were sent by the Philippine secretary more than a month after the Department of Homeland Security told Fil-Am community leaders that their request to be placed under TPS is still under consideration.
“Many of my countrymen in the US were affected by Typhoon Haiyan. This humanitarian assistance would provide temporary relief for them from the natural disaster,” Del Rosario added.
Manila had formally filed for TPS designation back in December, a few weeks after Typhoon Haiyan destroyed the central Visayas region, killing more than 6,000 people and severely affecting at least 1.4 million others in the surrounding provinces.
Del Rosario said a TPS designation for the Philippines will allow more than 200,000 undocumented Filipinos to stay and work legally in the US for at least 18 months.
The US government has received and granted similar immigration disaster relief requests in the past, to undocumented aliens from other countries affected by natural disasters such as El Salvador, Haiti, and Nicaragua. They were subsequently placed under TPS and allowed to stay within US borders.
Secretary Del Rosario also met with leaders of the Fil-Am community including J.T. Mallonga, Chair of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NAFFAA), earlier this week, assuring them of the Philippine government’s full support in pushing the TPS request.
“We stand with you on this issue,” he told his supporters, noting that the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC and the Consulates General in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Guam will continue to work with government leaders and the Fil-Am community on enacting TPS.
Del Rosario remembers the devastating effects Typhoon Haiyan had on the Filipino community. As the first year anniversary of the tropical cyclone approaches, he calls urgently upon the US government to hear their plea.
“We will always remember and cherish the invaluable and immediate assistance provided by the United States in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan,” Del Rosario said, remembering the overwhelming and timely response of Washington, which not only provided troops, ships and aircraft but also more than $86 million in government aid and resources.
“However, almost one year after the calamity, there is still much to be done. Massive investments and necessary expertise are still necessary to continue the reconstruction work.”
(With reports from NY Philippine Consulate General)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(OCIE September 26 – October 2, 2014 Sec. A pg.1)
