DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
P R E S S  S T A T E M E N T
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                         Tel. No. 834-4000                                                                                   www.dfa.gov.ph

Statement of Honorable Alberto G. Romulo,
Secretary of Foreign Affairs

On the floods and landslides In Central America and Mexico
14 October 2005

 
I wish to express my most heartfelt condolences to those who have lost families and friends to the devastating floods and landslides brought upon Central America and Mexico by hurricane Stan.

I also wish to express deep concern for the damage wrought by hurricane Stan in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico and the displacement caused by this natural calamity to thousands of families across this region.

The grief and sorrow experienced by the peoples in these countries are shared by Filipinos who know first-hand the impact of such a tragic event on individuals, families and their communities.

We offer our prayers to those who have fallen to nature's fury.

In these most trying of times for our Latin American friends, the Philippines stands by their governments and peoples.  Together with the members of the international community, we shall find ways to help our friends from across the Pacific.

The Philippines shares in the hope and belief that, with the resiliency of the human spirit, our Latin American friends shall prevail over this tragedy and succeed in rebuilding and rehabilitating the countless lives and many communities affected by this unfortunate event.  END
 

/jay