Cebuano who coordinated ‘Yolanda’ aid is UK honorary consul in Cebu

By: Tarra Quismundo - 10 years ago

Ambassador Asif Ahmad INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A Cebu native who served a key role in coordinating British aid response in the wake of supertyphoon Yolanda’s devastation in the Visayas has been appointed the United Kingdom’s new honorary consul in Cebu, the UK Embassy said on Tuesday.

British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad this week appointed Tamsin Booth as the UK’s honorary consul in Cebu, tasked to look after British citizens in the Visayas.

“I welcome Tamsin to her new role. Her unique background will enable British nationals resident in Cebu and the wider Visayas region to access help from the British Embassy. Tamsin supported me and the UK Aid team immensely in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) when Mactan became our relief hub,” said Ahmad in a statement on Tuesday.

The UK remains the largest foreign donor to the Yolanda relief and recovery effort, providing some P11.1 billion in aid for the Philippines.

Booth will replace her mother, former Honorary Consul Moya Jackson, in the post. Jackson, who came to Cebu in the ’60s, retired last year after serving the British Embassy for some 25 years.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank former Honorary Consul Moya Jackson for her sterling work for the British community in Cebu over the preceding 25 years and to wish her well in her retirement in England,” said Ahmad in citing Jackson’s nearly three decades of service.

Cebu-born Booth has lived in the city “all her life,” with close links to the British community in the area. She had served as consular warden for the UK mission here before her current assignment, and “has plenty of experience of assisting British Nationals,” said the Embassy.

“I am very honored to take on this role. I know it is a great responsibility and I look forward to helping my fellow British nationals in Cebu and the region,” Booth said in a statement.