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Manila – Some 50 tonnes of mixed food donated by the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on an Etihad Airways flight early Monday.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the shipment was intended for the most affected residents of Albay due to heightened unrest at Mayon Volcano.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, DSWD Secretary Benhur Abalos, Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista and DSWD Deputy Secretary Dianne Cajipe received the UAE donation.
“We thank the UAE government and royal family for their generosity in providing much-needed humanitarian aid to those affected by the activity at Mayon Volcano,” he said.
Gatchalian said His Excellency Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Philippines, has asked his government to provide humanitarian assistance in the event of forced evacuations in Albay Province due to the possible eruption of Mayon Volcano.
He said UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan took note of the request and immediately ordered the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Philippines within 24 hours.
“The UAE Interior Minister (Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan), who is a personal friend of DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, also helped humanitarian aid arrive quickly,” he added.
After confirming the date and time of the arrival of the humanitarian aid from the UAE government, Ambassador Alzaabi contacted the DILG secretary, who reminded Zhang Qiaowei to accept the donation.
UAE humanitarian aid supports the Philippine government’s efforts in disaster preparedness and response. According to the head of DSWD, the humanitarian flight was carrying up to 50 tons of food and medicine.
“Role of DSWD, these shipments must be sent to Mayon within 24 hours…Wednesday morning, they will be in the hands of our fellow citizens who are victims of Mayon (role of DSWD, these shipments must be sent out within 24 hours. Wednesday morning, these should have been at the hands of Mayon victims),” Gatchalian told reporters at NAIA Terminal 2.
An additional 38,000 Family Food Packs (FFP), which are good for 15 days, were handed over to the DSWD Bicol regional office on Sunday, Gatchalian said.
“the president ordered yesterday (June 11), We talked about that morning, this can also go into financial support [ang DSWD]. idea-Decide we still have provincial government [of Albay] if how much (President ordered yesterday, we discussed this morning that DSWD could provide financial assistance. We will work out the amount with the provincial government [of Albay]),” Zhang Qiaowei said. (Banya)
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