Sendong victims receive support from Pinoys, foreigners worldwide

Victims of tropical storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi) stand to get some P8 million in added aid from Japan, with another P543,000 on the way.   The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Japanese business giant Sumitomo Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation Asia Pte. Ltd. are donating another 10 million yen (P5.537 million) to the victims.
Earlier, Sumitomo donated 10 million yen (P5.537 million) to assist relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of “Sendong,” the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo said.   "In the Philippines, Sumitomo Corporation is involved in various sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture (plantation), infrastructure projects, transportation projects," the embassy said in a news release on its website.   It said Sumitomo's donation was coursed through the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, and will be turned over to proper authorities in the Philippines.   Sumitomo Corporation is a Japanese global organization engaged in various business activities selling a variety of domestic products and services.   Meanwhile, the DFA said officials from Kitakyushu City pledged 1 million yen (about P543,000) last Wednesday as humanitarian assistance, in a meeting between Philippine Ambassador Manuel Lopez and Japanese officials of the Kitakyushu City Promotion Headquarters, Satoshi Maruyama (chief executive officer) and Shinichiro Tsubaki (manager).   "Mr. Maruyama presented the letter of Mayor Kenji Kitahashi of the City of Kitakyushu expressing 'deepest condolences to the many lives lost' and offering 'heartfelt prayers to those who have been affected,'" the DFA said.   Kitakyushu is Kyushu's northernmost international city with a population of about a million people. It borders on the main island of Japan across the Kanmon Strait.    Japanese seafarers pitch in   In a separate statement, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the All Japan Seamen’s Union (JSU) turned over P2.5 million for victims of "Sendong" to acting Secretary Lourdes Trasmonte.   “As a token of solidarity and support, JSU would like to make a humble contribution to the relief efforts of DOLE. We hope that this would be of help in the reconstruction efforts for the benefits of the Filipinos who were affected by the disaster,” JSU president Capt. Yoji Fujisawa said.    For her part, Trasmonte thanked the JSU for the donation for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, two cities hit hardest by "Sendong."    “We are very grateful to the JSU for this donation... Talagang nag-volunteer sila na tumulong sa ating mga kababayan, kasi noon naman daw na ang Japan ang dumanas ng kalamidad, tinulungan natin sila, kaya ibinabalik lamang nila ang magandang gawa natin,”  she said.   She said the P2.5 million will go to helping DOLE workers and other displaced workers affected by the massive floods from "Sendong."   The DOLE has already released P6.912 million  for the emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities for relief efforts for  displaced workers there.   Tropical storm "Sendong" lashed parts of Mindanao and Visayas last December, leaving behind 1,259 dead and P1.706 billion in damage to property - RJMD, GMA News