Japan pledges P8.2-M aid for ‘Ruby’ victims

MANILA, Philippines—The Japanese government has pledged P8.2 million in emergency assistance for the victims of the Typhoon “Ruby,” which hit the Visayas and the Bicol regions the hardest.

In a statement, the Japanese Embassy in Manila on Friday said Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa will hand over emergency relief goods for the typhoon victims to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Dec. 15.

The relief goods will be received by Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman in a ceremony at the headquarters of the DSWD in Quezon City.

“The assistance worth approximately 22 million yen (approximately P8.2 million) aims to alleviate the difficulties of the people affected by the calamity,” the embassy said.

The relief goods, which include blankets, sleeping pads and plastic sheets, “will mitigate the difficult living conditions in and around evacuation centers,” it said.

Messages expressing condolences and sympathies were also sent earlier by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida to President Aquino and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

“The government of Japan reiterates its commitment in assisting the Philippine government’s disaster management efforts,” it said.