Photo 2: DSWD Assistant Secretary Lopez, assisted by Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Lugene Ang, inspects the sacks of rice donated by the Chinese government and the PCCI at the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center (NROC).
The spirit of international solidarity continues to prevail as another batch of donations was received by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from its international partner organizations.
During a simple turnover ceremony on Tuesday, August 2, DSWD Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez received 100 camping tents, 500 sleeping pads, 100 rolls of plastic sheets, 100 portable jerry cans/water containers, eight generator sets with 16 pieces of cord reel (two per generator set), and 16 pieces of conversion/adoptor plugs (two per generator set) from the government of Japan, led by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines KOSHIKAWA Kazuhiko, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) headed by their Chief Representative in the Philippines SAKAMOTO Takema, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) cargo airport. The ceremony was graced by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Jesus Domingo.
In another turnover ceremony, Assistant Secretary Lopez received 58,000 bags of 5-kg rice pack from the Chinese Embassy, led by Chinese Embassy Minister Counselor Zhuo Zhiyong, and the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI), headed by their president Lugene Ang, at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC), the main disaster hub of the Department located in Pasay City.
In his message during the twin turnover activities, Assistant Secretary Lopez said, “It is always during the time of hardship that kindness of our friends and allies shine a ray of hope in our darkest time of need.”
“These (donations) have not only helped the lives of our kababayans, but also led a helping arm in the Philippine government as it strives to recover from the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to the Philippine economy,” Assistant Secretary Lopez added.
The donated goods will be distributed to displaced victims of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Northern Luzon and other calamities.
The Department extended its gratitude to all private partners for helping the Philippine government provide the needed assistance to residents affected by disasters. ###
