DFA: Over 10 tons relief goods from PHL to arrive in Japan

Over 10 metric tons of relief goods will arrive in quake- and tsunami-hit Japan on Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The DFA and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) turned over the relief goods worth P848,445 to flag carrier Philippine Airlines. DSWD Undersecretary Celia Yangco and DFA Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Cristina Ortega took part in the turnover. "In keeping with Japan's specific request from the Philippines, the relief goods consist of food packs, towels, noodles, dust masks and mats provided by the DSWD. They are scheduled to arrive in Japan on Friday evening," the DFA said in a news article posted on its website on Friday. The items will be flown to Japan by PAL free of charge under the Bayanihan Humanitarian Assistance initiative for Japan that President Benigno Aquino III had directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to undertake, the DFA said. Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez will turn over to Japanese authorities the relief items for residents of Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures affected by the March 11 disaster. "It is in the spirit of Bayanihan that the Filipino people reach out to help the people of Japan as they endeavor to overcome this great challenge," DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario said. Del Rosario added that the Philippine Embassy wants to focus its relief assistance in the Tohoku area, home to an estimated 4,600 Filipinos. He also said the Philippines remains ready to send personnel from NDRRMC-member agencies to assist in the recovery efforts if Japan would need its help. He said a Philippine Air Force C-130 transport aircraft remains on standby for this purpose. Meanwhile, Del Rosario said the Philippine Embassy will intensify its efforts to locate and assist Filipinos in the northern part of the Japan. He said the Philippine Embassy has so far evacuated from the Toroku region 143 Filipinos who heeded the call for voluntary departure. These evacuees have been brought to temporary shelters in Tokyo, the DFA said. – VVP, GMA News