5 September 2005 – Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr., of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, USA, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that he and three other personnel of the Consulate proceeded to Houston, Texas state, from 3 – 5 September 2005 to help organize and mobilize the Filipino-American community in the city in its emergency disaster relief efforts for Filipino victims of Hurricane Katrina taking refuge at the Houston Astrodome, and to extend consular and assistance-to-nationals services to those who might require it.

Consul General Paynor said that their visit was in response to the request of the Filipino-American community for Consular assistance and pursuant to the instructions of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo.

Consul General Paynor further said that due to the huge inflow and chaotic movement of people at the Houston Astrodome, he will also determine on site how many Filipinos have been evacuated there from New Orleans, Louisiana state.

He reported that the state of Texas had agreed to take in three times more refugees, bringing the total number of evacuees to nearly 75,000:  23,000 have already been evacuated to the Astrodome in Houston, and the cities of San Antonio and Dallas will be the future destinations of the 50,000 new evacuees.

Consul General Paynor has also reiterated Ambassador Albert del Rosario’s appeal to the Filipino-American community to raise funds for the American Red Cross as relief agencies have indicated that cash donations are a speedy way to help the hurricane’s victims. (Please refer to the separate Press Release on Ambassador del Rosario’s appeal to the Filipino-American community.)

Consul General Paynor assured  that the Consulate will continue to provide assistance to Filipinos within their jurisdiction. END