US Embassy intact, reopens after days of flooding

United States embassy in Manila. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the heavy rains and massive flooding since last week, the United States Embassy’s Chancery compound on Roxas Boulevard was spared from any damage, US Ambassador to the Philippine Harry Thomas Jr. said Friday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Department of Foreign Affairs event in Pasay City, Thomas said the Embassy reopened this morning after shutting down operations from Tuesday to Thursday.

“We had water in the front but nothing was destroyed… We have a brand new seawall. Our seawall helped [but] I think other things need to be done,” Thomas told reporters.

He said the Embassy’s consular services office also started processing the backlog of visa applications canceled this week.

“We opened this morning, we have a lot of applicants to take care of and we will, over the next few days, get through our backlog,” Thomas said