PRESS RELEASE NO. 101-2023

Consul General Emil Fernandez (center, standing) poses with Maui-based Filipino teachers under the Exchange Visitor Program. Consulate personnel met with the group, all safe and accounted for, to ascertain their well-being following several wildfires that struck the island last August.

22 September 2023, Honolulu – For the second time in as many months, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu deployed a consular and assistance-to-nationals team to Maui to attend to Filipinos affected by the wildfires that ravaged parts of the island last August 8.

Led by Consul General Emil Fernandez, the group, in the day prior to the conduct of the outreach mission, met with Filipino burn victims, relatives of fatalities and a group of teachers, who recently arrived in Hawaii under the Exchange Visitor Program.

Upon President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to render full support to Filipinos impacted by the unprecedented disaster, all qualified individuals were provided financial assistance sourced from the Department of Foreign Affairs-managed Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Fund. Secretary Enrique Manalo and Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega of the Department’s Office for Migrant Workers Affairs fast-tracked the approval of the allotment “to assist all Filipinos needing immediate help to cover costs related to the tragedy.”

Consulate personnel will be at the Lahaina Civic Center from September 22 to 24 to provide a range of consular services to members of the Filipino community in Maui. The activity is being conducted in collaboration with the Maui Immigrant Services Division and the Office of the Maui County Mayor. (END)

Consul General Fernandez (rightmost) and other Consulate personnel meet with relatives of fatalities of the Maui wildfires to facilitate and provide advice regarding the repatriation to the Philippines of the remains of their loved ones.  Accompanying Consul General Fernandez were Consul Grace Bulos and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Hermogenes Cayabyab.