Albay, Philippines: The government of the United Arab Emirates has donated some 50 tons of different kinds of food items intended for Albay province residents, who are most affected by the heightening unrest of Mayon Volcano. The UAE’s food shipment on board an Etihad Airways plane arrived early morning today, on Monday, June 12, 2023, at Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
As per the Updates shared, The Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary (DSWD) Rex Gatchalian, along with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos, Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista and DSWD Undersecretary Dianne Cajipe, received the food and medicine donation from the UAE government.
While expressing his pleasure and gratitude to the Government of UAE for the food and Medicine donation, The Secretary for Social Welfare and Development, Rex Gatchalian, remarked on the government’s efficiency and generosity and added, “We thank the UAE government and the Royal family for their generosity in sending the much-needed humanitarian aid for those affected by Mayon’s volcanic activities,”
The DSWD chief, Rex Gatchalian, said that Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Philippines, requested humanitarian aid from his government amid the forced evacuations in Albay province due to the possible eruption of Mt. Mayon.
The UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, immediately ordered 50 tons of humanitarian aid to the Philippines within 24 hours.
“The UAE’s interior minister, who is a personal friend of DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, also helped in the swift arrival of the humanitarian aid,” the DSWD secretary said.
Upon confirmation of the date and time of arrival of the UAE government’s humanitarian aid, Ambassador Alzaabi reached out to the DILG secretary, who alerted Secretary Gatchalian for the acceptance of the donation.
The UAE’s humanitarian aid supports the Philippine government’s disaster preparedness and response efforts. The humanitarian flight contains up to 50 tons of food and medicine, according to the DSWD chief.
Secretary Gatchalian said an additional 38,000 family food packs (FFPs) were turned over Sunday to the DSWD Bicol regional office, which will be good for 15 days.
