ASEAN chief reiterates support to Philippines
“The
devastation is massive but we know that the resilience of the people in
this country is even greater. ASEAN will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with
the Philippines in restoring hope and progress in these
communities,” Minh said on his arrival in this typhoon-ravaged city.
In his capacity as ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator,
Secretary-General Minh led a symbolic hand-over of the initial 2,000
ASEAN family kits from the AHA Centre to Philippines’ Secretary of
Social Welfare and Development Dinky Soliman and Secretary of Department
of Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas who are the top government
officials spearheading the relief operations in affected areas. Each kit
includes cooking supplies, clothing, sleeping, and hygiene supplies for
a family of five.
Deputy Director of National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Gen. Romeo Fajardo thanked
Minh for ASEAN’s “very useful support”. He informed Minh that so far 51
percent of debris has been cleared and many roads are now accessible.
Secretary-General Minh met and expressed his gratitude to humanitarian
responders from ASEAN who are providing a range of support to the relief
and recovery operations. He also met the troops from Brunei who are
providing critical logistical support. Further, Minh met with staff of
the Office of Civil Defense in Tacloban who are now operating from a
prefabricated office donated by ASEAN.
From Tacloban,
Secretary-General Minh flew to Manila where he met with Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, briefing the latter on ASEAN's
assistance thus far.-VNA