VP Binay: Russia to extend humanitarian aid to Visayas quake victims

Russia will extend humanitarian aid to survivors of the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that devastated Negros Island last Monday, Vice President Jejomar Binay said Friday.

 

In a statement, Binay said Russia will send 60 tons of relief goods including blankets, tents, sugar, and preserved fish and meat in two batches on Feb. 11 and 14.

 

“The Philippine government is grateful to the Russian Federation for the humanitarian aid it extended to us. I am also honored that it had tapped my office to assist in the distribution of the relief goods,” Binay said.

 

He said both batches of relief goods are to arrive at 4:20 a.m. via IL76 flights SUM9705 and SUM9707, respectively. Casualties

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Visayas earthquake death toll has risen to 34 as of Thursday evening.  The number of missing persons remained at 71 while the number of injured persons stood at 54. Forty-two of the 54 injured were from Guihulngan and 12 from Jimalalud.  Courtesy call In his statement, Binay cited an aide memoire that Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev handed to him during a courtesy call on him at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City.

 

The Office of the Vice President said the Russian government specifically asked it to coordinate activities related to the delivery of the humanitarian aid, arrange for the waiving of airport fees, and identify the government agency that will officially receive the cargo.

 

Binay asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to assist in the distribution of the goods to Negros Oriental and other areas affected by recent disasters.

 

Turnover

 

The same statement said OVP chief of staff Benjamin Martinez and a representative from DSWD will attend the turnover of the first batch of the cargo at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Saturday.

 

Earlier, the OVP and the Makati city government dispatched two K9 rescue teams to assist in the retrieval efforts in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

 

The OVP also sent 584 boxes of water to the provincial government of Negros Oriental and the local government of Guihulngan.

 

At least 50 sacks of rice were also distributed in Guihulngan and another 15 sacks in Jimalalud. — RSJ, GMA News