Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the Philippines H.E Mohammed Obaid Alqattam Alzaabi flew to Davao de Oro on Sunday (March 17) to visit and provide relief assistance to the families affected by the landslide and flooding caused by recent weather disturbances in the province.

In his speech during the turn over of assistance, Secretary Gatchalian thanked UAE President, His Excellency Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Royal family and the people of the UAE for their generous donation amounting to Php5.5 million, which is approximately equivalent to 5,000 family food packs (FFPs) for disaster-hit residents in Mindanao.

The aid for Davao de Oro is the first of a multiple of assistance to be provided by the UAE to the Philippines.

The government of UAE also extended its support to the disaster operations for Mayon evacuees.

Accompanying Secretary Gatchalian in the visit to Davao de Oro were Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe, DSWD Field Office XI Regional Director Vanessa Goc-ong and Maco Mayor Carlos Voltaire Rimando.