PHL Embassy allows some personnel to leave Japan

As the situation in Japan still uncertain, the Philippine Embassy there on Tuesday allowed some of its personnel and their dependents to return to the Philippines. Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez said some "non-essential" embassy personnel are going home to the Philippines but the officers will continue to serve on a 24/7 basis. "We'll remain with my officers. We decided we'll stick it out," he said. "Ito mga gustong pauwiin, may asawa o anak nila, we gave them the go-signal... We are merely following what the other embassies are also undertaking right now," he said in an interview on dzBB radio on Tuesday. Lopez said with the reduced manpower, some personnel at the embassy in Tokyo may move to the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka. Lopez appealed to the public not to speculate after a third explosion rocked a troubled nuclear power plant in Japan on Tuesday. He said the diplomatic community in Japan expects to be briefed by the Japanese government within the day. "It's too soon to speculate na masama ang situation (It's too early to speculate that the situation is worsening)," he said. Voluntary repatriation Lopez said Filipinos in Japan who want to go home can do so and the embassy can help make arrangements for their flights home. "That is their call, kung gusto nila umuwi (if they want to go home), it's up to them on a voluntary decision on their part," he said. He advised those who want to go to home to make their arrangements early. On the other hand, he said the embassy has no authority yet to repatriate Filipinos, at least for now. "Tutulong lang kami with the airlines pero yung (We can help them make arrangements with airlines but) take care of their repatriation we have no authority yet from the government," he said. Food shortage Lopez said he expects Filipinos in Japan to cope with the looming shortage in food and water. He said he is counting on Filipinos' networking skills to find stores with food supplies. "Somehow we will find water, food and fuel. Sanay tayo, mahusay ang networking ng mga Pilipino. Pag nabalitaan ang supermarket may tubig in a matter of minutes puntahan agad ng kababayan natin," he said. (Somehow we'll find water, food and fuel. We are used ot this. Filipinos are good at networking. If they learn of a supermarket selling water, expect Filipinos to converge there in minutes.) – VVP, GMA News