MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will be sending $200,000 financial donation and in-kind relief assistance to the earthquake-stricken Syria.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday that it was instructed by the government to send the aid to the Syrian Arab Republic, more than a month since the temblor ravaged the Middle Eastern country.
“The Philippines, as a member of the international community of nations, steadfastly supports the united global effort to assist the victims of the February 6 earthquake in Turkiye and Syria,” DFA said in a statement.
This, it noted, is upon the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for concerned government agencies to closely work together to fulfill the country’s “humanitarian commitments” to the Syrian government.
Both chambers of Philippine Congress have also sent their monetary donations to the victims of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that rocked Turkiye and Syria in February, leaving at least 50,000 people dead.
The Senate gave P2.5 million ($45,390) sourced from the pockets of each senator, while the House of Representatives handed over more than P5 million ($100,000) through the Speaker’s Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Initiative. — Kimberly D. Albaño, INQUIRER.net intern
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