UK, Canada step up aid to Yolanda victims; Japanese soldier's son donates P87k

The United Kingdom and Canada on Saturday stepped up their aid to victims in the Philippines of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), one week after it battered Visayas and Southern Luzon.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has doubled the contribution for Yolanda victims to £50 million (over P3.5B), UK Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad tweeted Saturday afternoon.

Ahmad added the UK will also send two C-130 planes to transfer supplies within the Philippines.

UK PM David Cameron doubles contribution for #yolanda to £50m, two C130 s added to transfer supplies within the Philippines.

— Asif Ahmad (@AsifAAhmad) November 16, 2013

In Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper reassured the Filipino Canadian community of the Canadian government's efforts to help victims of the typhoon.

Harper visited the Filipino Association of Montréal and Suburbs, and extended his sympathy to all those who have been affected.

An article posted on the Prime Minister's website said Harper also "pledged his ongoing support to emergency relief efforts in the affected areas, and sought input from the community on the government’s response to the crisis."

“Our hearts and prayers go out to all those in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan, as well as to the Filipino-Canadians who have felt the impact of this devastating natural disaster. Our Government has been working closely with the Filipino-Canadian community and relief agencies to provide assistance as soon as possible to those in the Philippines who need it most.  I was pleased to receive feedback from the community today on the efforts that we have made.”

Also, Harper commended the Filipino-Canadian community in Montreal for organizing donations for the victims.

Canadian individuals and businesses already donated some $15.7 million in aid, he noted.

The Canadian government has committed to match donations by individual Canadians.

“These acts of generosity and compassion towards the victims of the typhoon can be seen across the country. I am proud that our Government is matching the generosity of individual Canadians dollar for dollar, in addition to the immediate emergency assistance we are providing and the deployment of elements of the Canadian Armed Forces' Disaster Assistance Response Team and the Canadian Red Cross medical team,” Harper said.

Japanese soldier's son

Meanwhile, in Japan, a son of a Japanese soldier who died in the Philippines during World War II gave Y200,000 (over P87,000) for Yolanda victims, the Philippine Embassy in Japan said.

"My father lies sleeping in a mountain somewhere in Luzon," said Kenji Hirakawa, who said he was just three months old when his father left to serve in the Japanese Imperial Army.

“I am enclosing here JPY200,000 for all the troubles my father may have caused to the Filipino people,” he said, adding he hopes the money will help alleviate the plight of the typhoon victims.

However, the embassy said Hirakawa did not write down a contact number.

"In the end his generous gesture and its impetus only prove that, after all that has been said and done, history will always bind the Philippines and Japan together," the embassy said. — LBG, GMA News