PH spreads ‘bayanihan spirit’ to Japan
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines, often the recipient of Japanese aid during calamities, will return the favor as it flies in more than 10 metric tons of noodles and food packs, towels, dust masks and mats to devastated parts of northeastern Japan, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
The donation of relief goods, the DFA said Friday, would be part of the government's commitment to join the global humanitarian drive for the Japanese people, who are still reeling from the twin disasters of quake and tsunami that struck their country two weeks ago.
“It is in the spirit of 'bayanihan' [neighborly cooperation] that the Filipino people reach out to help the people of Japan as they endeavour to overcome this great challenge,” Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario said.
The relief goods have been earmarked by the Japanese government for distribution to families in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures (provinces), two of the worst hit by the March 11 catastrophe.
The donated items, which Japan had specifically requested, will be turned over by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez to Japanese authorities, the DFA said in a statement.
On Thursday, the relief goods bound for Japan worth almost P1 million (P848,445) were turned over by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the DFA to the Philippine Airlines (PAL), the country's flag carrier.
They will be flown to Japan free of charge by PAL under the government's Bayanihan Humanitarian Assistance initiative for Japan, the DFA said.
President Benigno Aquino III directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to undertake that project, in partnership with the DFA, DSWD and other agencies.
Secretary Del Rosario added that the Philippines was prepared to send humanitarian assistance personnel from NDRRMC-member agencies to assist in the recovery efforts, should Japan so request.
He said a Philippine Air Force C-130 transport aircraft remained on standby for this purpose.
The official added that the Philippine embassy in Tokyo would focus its efforts in the Tohoku area, home to an estimated 4,600 Filipinos.
The embassy said it would continue looking for and assisting Filipinos in the northeastern part of the country, particularly areas near the Fukushima nuclear plants, which remain under threat from a developing nuclear emergency.
Del Rosario said the embassy had evacuated a total of 143 Filipinos from the Tohoku region who heeded its call for voluntary departure.
The evacuees have been brought to temporary shelters in Tokyo, he said. The embassy also continues to undertake consular missions and to bring food and other supplies to Filipinos who opted to stay in the affected areas.
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