PH Consulate visits Pinoys in shelters for LA wildfires victims

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles visited Filipinos at the Pasadena Evacuation Center where victims of the ongoing wildfires are seeking shelter. 

The Consulate said they are also currently coordinating with the Filipino community to assess the situation of those who lost their homes, some of whom have been taken in by fellow Filipino friends.

The Consulate has yet to provide an exact count of Filipino citizens affected.

"Los Angeles authorities have been unable to provide information on the exact number of Philippine citizens affected by the wildfires," said the Public Diplomacy and Information Section of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles.

"The Consulate General nevertheless continues to reach out to local authorities and Filipino-American organizations to determine the situation of any affected Philippine citizen and stands ready to provide assistance as allowed under existing laws," it added. 

Previously, Filipinos and Filipino-Americans affected by the wildfires appealed for help after some of them lost everything to the fire. 

A firefighter battles the fire in the Angeles National Forest near Mt. Wilson as the wildfires burn in the Los Angeles area, during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, U.S. January 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier also said that it is ready to aid Filipinos affected by the massive wildfires. 

“Sa ngayon, we've been trying to reach 'yung ating mga kababayan through all possible means... Marami sa ating mga kababayan ay under mandatory evacuation,” said DFA Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito Cruz in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Cruz said that so far only three Filipino families have reached out for help from the Philippine government.

“Kakaunti lamang ang humihingi ng tulong sa amin. We are assuming na marami silang kamag-anak sa LA at doon muna sila na naninirahan... Sa Palisades, walang masyadong mga Pilipino,” he said.

(Only a few people have reached out for help. We are assuming that they stayed with their relatives in LA. There are only a few Filipinos in the Palisades.)

The DFA official said there are over three million Filipinos in the entire state of California.

Curfews have been imposed in areas that have burned or are still burning due to incidents of looting.

The National Guard is now assisting the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in securing homes under mandatory evacuation orders.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News