Foreign donors continue sending aid for ‘Pablo’ victims

MANILA, Philippines - Relief goods from foreign and local donors continue to pour in for the victims of typhoon “Pablo” in Mindanao, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said over the weekend.

DSWD secretary Corazon Soliman said Dole Korea and Itochu Corporation Japan, in partnership with Stanfilco-Dole, a division of Dole Philippines, Inc., and Kasilak Development Foundation, Inc. (KDFI) donated P3.2-million worth of relief goods for affected residents in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte.

The donation consisted of 11,100 cups of instant noodles; 1,000 cases of canned sweet corn; 336 cases of canned meat; 15,554 cases of avocado dip, and 4,664 boxes of bottled water.

The goods were distributed to 3,600 families in the towns of Compostela and Maragusan in Compostela Valley; and Asuncion in Davao del Norte during the “Caravan of Hope” on Dec. 27 and 28.

The DSWD said the Kasilak Foundation and Dole-Stanfilco also conducted medical missions in areas severely hit by the super typhoon.

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) donated P1 million, while Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines, Inc. gave P1-million worth of assorted batteries and a check for P213,000 for the affected families.

Recently, the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) turned over 3,000 bags of rice to the DSWD for Pablo victims.

AHA also donated $100,000 to the United Nations World Food Program for rice procurement, which is part of ASEAN support to the Philippine government’s response to the natural calamity.

A Japanese multinational corporation involved in banana production in Mindanao has donated 10 million yen in cash (approximately P5 million) for Pablo’s victims.

The Sumitomo Corp. coursed the donation through the Philippine embassy in Tokyo, which would turn it over to government officials handling relief operations for the victims of calamity.

Sumitomo also incurred massive losses after its almost 5,000 hectares of banana plantations were wiped out by Pablo.

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez recently met with executives of Sumitomo Corp. led by Masayuki Doi, Toshio Motegi and Ted Ono.

On behalf of Sumitomo Corp. president and CEO Kuniharu Nakamura, Doi expressed condolences and hope for the quick recovery and rehabilitation of affected communities.

Lopez thanked the firm’s officials for their generous contribution and concern for the typhoon victims.

Aside from operating banana plantations, Sumitomo Corp. is involved in manufacturing, infrastructure, and transportation projects, among many others, in the country. – With Pia Lee-Brago