MANILA, Dec. 15 (PNA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Monday it is very grateful for the PhP8.2 million (22 million yen) worth of assistance extended by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the victims of typhoon “Ruby” (international name: Hagupit) which hit the country last week.
“We are very thankful for the support that you are giving us (for the Ruby victims). It will be of big help to the victims of the typhoon,” said DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman during the signing of the deed of donation and acceptance held at the DSWD central office in Quezon City.
She allso said that she was very impressed with the quick response of the Japanese government to the request for support the DSWD asked through a letter last week.
“The support that you will be providing will bring comfort to our country men and women who are still on the stage of recovery,” Soliman said.
The assistance includes blankets, sleeping pads, water purifiers and collapsible water containers which will be given to those families in Eastern Visayas whose houses were either totally or partially damaged by the typhoon.
To date, based on assessment, there were 200,000 partially damaged and about 35,000 others totally destroyed.
Soliman said that with JICA’s augmentation to what the DSWD has already extended to the typhoon victims, the government can do more.
“The need for tarpaulins and plastic sheets is quite intense because of intermittent rains that are happening or possibly will happen,” she added.
She said that such items will be useful to protect the victims from the rains.
“I hope that this small donation will contribute to alleviate the difficulties suffered by the victims,” said Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa.
Ishikawa said they are very happy to help the Philippine government, noting that Japan is also prone to natural disasters like the Philippines.
“We are very willing to support the Filipino people in trouble,” Ishikawa said. (PNA)