"More Filipinos who survived the tsunami that struck the popular tourist resort in Phuket, Thailand are expected to return home in the coming days, as they become uncertain about their future there," Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said.

Romulo instructed Philippine ambassador to Thailand Antonio Rodriguez "to account for all the displaced overseas Filipino workers in tsunami-stricken parts of Thailand and extend the necessary assistance that they may need."

According to Romulo, the embassy staff has reportedly extended "over and above the normal consular assistance" to Filipinos in Phuket. The ambassador also asked members of the Filipino community in Thailand to help in taking care of the survivors and help locate others included on the missing list.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said more than 69 Filipinos were affected:

- 33 still in Thailand (scheduled for repatration)

    *Allan Ortega                         *Alvin H. Bay                           *Celeste Panahon

    *Cherry Panahon                    *Dario Banua Maniago              *Darryl Gay S. Juarez

    *Emily Balao                          *Erwin Raagas                          *Flordeliza (Dianne) Isla

    *Jenny Rose Bagoyo               *Jerwin Sedillo                         *Joselito A. Balbutin

    *Jovito Masaga                       *Lea Reyes                              *Lorena M. Burlaza

    *Margaret Ang Choi                *Marian Pasag                          *Marlena Baardsen

    *Mary Ann Bagoyo                  *Michelle Faustino Noel             *Rachel Escoton

    *Reginaldo Recibio                  *Theresa Joy Roxas                 *Rolando V. Aclan Jr.

    *Joycee Libertad Nilo               *Mary Ann Geronimo                *Caitlin Shay Robinson,

    *Fatima Watanasiri                  *Gabriel Manalo Jr.                   *Martin Phojola

    *May Anne Vergara Bird          *Rolando Lagao                        *Florante Encarnacion

- 14 repatriated:

    *Rosemarie Phi King Ang Tan        *Beverly Tan                           * Catherine Prieto             

    *Pilar Marbella Prieto                    *Charlie M. Caringal                 *Gelver A. Barranta

    *Jean Caringal                             *Marco Sangil                          *Novie Navarette

    *Roselyn Carpio Asuncion             *Virginia Pasamonte Cruz         *Nestor Viernes

    *Arlene Vinagrera                        *Michelle Vinagrera

- 13 declared missing:

   *Alexander Latoza               *Alma Gillado                *Ariel Mallari            *Cruzett Bulaon Cruz

   *Edna Atienza Suess            *Eliza Ferguzon              *Gerard S. Reyes    *Gloria Pongco Bauerle     

   *Jasmin C. Barandoc           *Marcela S. Albao           *Marcial Ferre          *Michael Galang

   *Remedios Rico Daniel

-  4  whereabouts unknown

    *Jay Ocampo, Josie Co, Jovita Gomez a.k.a. Wijitra Charooenpong, and Nelson Garma.

-  5 dead
    *Sharleen May Ang Tan                 *Ivy Catherine Tomenio-Terasaka     

    *Kathryn Joy B. Lomadilla              *Ria Jane M. Tuzara (body not found)

    *Estelita C. Sales (body not found)

8 new survivors: Aclan, Nilo, Geronimo, Robinson, Watanasiri, Manalo, Phojola, and Bird.

The DFA said three new names -- Viernes and the Vinagreras -- were added to the list, while another -- Maria Mediatrix Manding -- was deleted from the list because she was not considered a tsunami victim.

Manding was assisted by the Philippine embassy in Thailand as an "assistance-to-nationals case," which involves soured employer-employee relationships, the DFA said.

Like Manding, Jay William Decayco was previously identified as a survivor scheduled for repatriation but was subsequently dropped from the list for the same reason.

Pinoys to the Rescue!

Sri Lanka.Twelve Philippine medical and relief specialists departed for Sri Lanka on Wednesday to help the victims of last week's deadly tsunamis there, officials said.

The team includes doctors, trauma specialists and sanitary engineers, some of whom were earlier sent to Iraq and the northeastern Philippines when the area was hit by storms and floods that left to help 1,800 dead or missing about a month ago.

The group departed on a commercial flight to Colombo but there were still no details on where they would eventually be assigned, the health department said.

Indonesia.Another 10-member team of doctors and nurses is set to be deployed to Indonesia, which was worst hit by the giant waves, but the government is still working out the details of their trip, the department added.

Indonesia had earlier asked the Philippines to delay the dispatch of the team to Aceh as the province inaccessible. President Gloria Arroyo is due to fly to Jakarta later Wednesday to attend a Thursday summit on the Asian tsunami disaster.

Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that during the summit, Arroyo would actively push for the setting up of a tsunami warning system in the region and would also "offer the broad array of Filipino skills and expertise," in relief and reconstruction efforts.

The Philippines was spared any damage from the earthquake-spawned tsunamis on December 26 that left about 150,000 dead in over 10 Asian and African countries.

GMA declares National Day of Prayer

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has declared a National Day of Prayer and Mourning for the thousands of people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Asia and Africa.

Various religious groups in the Philippines will hold prayers that will culminate in a nationwide inter-faith prayer on Friday.