MANILA, Philippines — All Filipinos from storm-ravaged Caribbean states who have sought repatriation have been transferred safely to Puerto Rico where they are awaiting repatriation even as a new powerful hurricane approached.
The Philippine embassy to the United States in Washington DC said Tuesday that the 23 Filipinos remaining in the British Virgin Islands, along with the nine in Anguilla and 17 in Sint Maarten had arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
This brought the total of Filipinos scheduled to fly home on September 19 — the same day Hurricane Maria is forecast to strike Puerto Rico — to 131.
The embassy said it is monitoring the progress of the hurricane, said to be the strongest to hit Puerto Rico in 85 years, even as it advised Filipino communities along Maria’s path “to prepare as best as they can, follow the directives of local authorities, and track the storm’s progress.”
Among the Filipinos waiting repatriation are two pregnant women and two children from the British Virgin Islands.