Immigration relief for Pinoys

December 16, 2013
Exactly one month after super typhoon Yolanda wrought unprecedented havoc in the Philippines, leaving 6,000 people dead, some 2,000 still missing and  some 12 million displaced with some four million houses destroyed, many survivors are still reeling in hardship with thousands without shelter and still hundreds having not received enough relief assistance to tide them through the difficult times. Worse, there are questions on the disposition of foreign food and material aid as some are seen being sold in the open market triggering an investigation by the United Nations itself which had spearheaded a global campaign for some $400 million in aid to the Philippines.
The United States government was one of the first countries to extend assistance, sending several warships, cargo planes and helicopters needed to transport food, water, medicines and some 13,000 soldiers. This also hastened the arrival in Manila of a new US ambassador, Philip Goldberg, to oversee the US relief operations upon the prodding of US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. The American envoy himself flew to Leyte and Samar and saw for himself the destruction caused by the super typhoon. Many Americans and Filipino Americans also marshaled their resources and sent millions of dollars, tons and tons of relief goods, medicines and other needs to the devastated areas.
In addition, the United States Government has also started considering the possibility of providing  immigration relief for Filipinos currently in the US who may have been impacted by Yolanda (international code name Haiyan). The proposal was announced by the US Customs and Immigration Services on November 15 and immediately welcomed by Filipinos led by Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. In a statement posted on the Philippine Embassy website, the Philippine ambassador also took note “of the strong interest of the Filipino Community, supported by members of the US Congress and leaders of the Catholic Church, for the US Government to place the Philippines under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and enable eligible Filipino nationals to support relief and rehabilitation efforts in the Philippines by allowing them to legally stay and work in the US for a certain period.”
While there is still ongoing consultation with US Government authorities on the proposed TPS program and the designation and with leaders of the Filipino Community and other stakeholders, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and other concerned agencies in Manila, the Philippine envoy expressed hope that what would finally come out “would be best for our country and our people.” Filipinos in the US and in the typhoon-affected areas in the Philippines are keenly awaiting developments on the matter even as Secretary of State John Kerry decided to visit Manila, Tacloban City and other areas in the Visayas next week.
Meanwhile, supporters of TPS in the U.S. wonder what’s keeping President Aquino from endorsing the initiative, without such action the likelihood of President Obama granting it could be little.