“In times of need, we express our gratitude to friends like the Japanese Government for donating goods which will help us as we begin the early recovery phase of our disaster operations in Typhoon Ruby-hit areas.”

This was the statement of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman during the signing ceremony on Monday of the deed of donation and acceptance of the goods donated by the Japan Government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for ‘Ruby’ survivors.

The donation includes blankets, sleeping pads, plastic sheets, water purifier, and collapsible water containers worth 22 million yen or P8.2 million.

JICA Chief Representative Noriaki Niwa and Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kasuhide Ishinakawa turned over the goods to Sec. Soliman.

Amb. Ishinakawa commended the Philippine Government’s proactive measures during the typhoon, particularly the pre-emptive evacuation of families in critical areas.

He said, “Prevention pays… We should redouble our efforts in investing in disaster risk management to protect the vulnerable sector, particularly the poor living in disaster-prone areas.”

He likewise assured the Secretary of the continued support of the Japanese government.

“As the Philippines’ neighbor and development partner for many years, we offer our support in the typhoon recovery efforts,” he added.

Sec. Soliman said that the donation will mainly go the affected families in Eastern Samar, the province hardest hit by ‘Ruby’.##