Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government is continuously monitoring the conditions of Indonesian citizens in the Philippines after tropical storm Washi devastated the southern parts of the country, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.

Speaking to the press prior to a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office here on Tuesday, Marty said so far no Indonesian citizen in the Philippines was known to have become a victim in the disaster.

"Our representative in Davao has set up a command post to conduct direct monitoring (of the conditions of Indonesian citizens)," he said.

Marty said the government had also committed itself to increase its relief aid to the Philippines following the tropical storm.

"The Indonesian government has expressed its readiness to increase provision of relief aid. A few weeks ago when the Philippines was hit by floods we donated US$400,000. This time we are also prepared to extend more relief aid which is now being coordinated by the coordinating minister for people`s welfare," he said.

Despite the deadly tropical storm, he said the Indonesian government had not issued a travel warning to its citizens to travel to the Philippines.

AFP quoted a government body as saying more than 1,000 people had been either killed or gone missing since the storm devastated the southern Philippines.

The Philippine disaster monitoring government council said in its updated report tropical storm Washi had left 957 people dead and 49 others missing after the storm engulfed Mindanao Island in South Philippines and environs at the weekend. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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