(Left photo) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Operations Office (DRRROO) Director Thelsa Biolena accepts the US$1,642,082.04 check donation from Thailand through Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario, as Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Prasas Prasasvinitchai looks on.

(Right photo) Another US$200 check is handed to Dir. Biolena  by Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC) Executive Director Bernardita Catalla. The  donation came from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Lao PDR Resident  Representative Minh Pham and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Lao PDR Country Manager Stefania Dina.

Both check donations which were turned over to DSWD yesterday are intended for victims of ‘Yolanda’.

As of January 21, 2014, DSWD has received a total of P72,418,737.60 local donations and US$17,672,759.55 foreign donations for ‘Yolanda’ survivors.

DSWD is thankful for the numerous initiatives of local and foreign donors  to help the victims of  the super typhoon. ###