Phl asks US to place country under Temporary Protected Status

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government has urged the United States to designate the country under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) following the recent super typhoon that ravaged Visayas region, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said today.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said that placing the Philippines under TPS will allow eligible Filipinos to stay and work in the United States in order for them to assist in the country's continuing recovery efforts after typhoon Haiyan that killed more than 6,000 people and affected more than 16 million others.

US authorities will evaluate first the request of the Philippine government and it is expected to take some time, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

"If approved, eligible Filipinos can start filing their applications which will be reviewed on a case-to-case basis," he said.

If the United States grants the request, the Philippines will join El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Honduras that were placed under TPS after experiencing similar natural disasters.

The request, which was made on Dec. 13, was officially conveyed by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. to the Department of Homeland Security through a note verbale sent to the US Department of State, Hernandez said.