The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Washington D.C., United States has sought the assistance of Filipino communities in the Bahamas and the neighboring Caribbean Islands to look for Filipinos who are working and living in the Abaco and Grand Bahama.
The call was made through a Facebook post on POLO’s account on Monday while Hurricane Dorian pounded the said islands.
The post received numerous feedbacks from Filipinos who knew some of their fellows working or living there.
They tagged their Facebook accounts in the comment section.
One Filipino named Elmer Bornilla Bongon said on Tuesday, September 3, at 4:20 a.m., that they were still experiencing non-stop rains and strong winds for 30 hours.
He said there were 38 Filipinos there, adding that they are still trying to get in touch with them. However, the roads were still impassable; the means of communication, cut off.
“This is totally devastating and a nightmare for us here. We heard news from some Filipinos who already marked themselves safe. Hopefully, bukas pag-gising namin may ma-confirm namin ang ligtas na kalagayan ng ibang Pinoy,” he said.
He also added that Filipinos have already survived a lot of storms.
“I know we will all rise up and patuloy na haharapin ang anumang bagyo o pagsubok. Please continue to pray for us.”
Another Filipino, named Joan Octaviano said those who were on duty at the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Grand Bahama are all safe.
He thanked those who have been providing them information and those who are also reaching out to them.
