Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency (H.E.) Mohamed Obaid Alzaabi on Wednesday (October 30) witness the distribution of the UAE government’s humanitarian aid led by the Emirates Red Crescent to Kristine-hit families at the Sta. Teresita Village Court in Barangay Malanday in Marikina City.

A total of 1,000 relief aid boxes were distributed to the Marikina City residents whose community was submerged by floodwaters at the height of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine.

Each relief aid box is composed of food supplies that are good for a 5-member family for five days. The box also includes essential hygiene kits.

During the simple ceremony for the aid giving, Secretary Gatchalian, joined by Senator Koko Pimentel, thanked the UAE government for their humanitarian assistance, citing it as a testament to the strong ties between the Philippines and the UAE.

The DSWD chief also expressed gratitude to the Special Envoy to the UAE for Trade and Investments Kathryna Pimentel for helping out in coordinating and communicating the needs of the Filipino people to the UAE government.

Other UAE officials who joined the aid-giving activity were Emirates Red Crescent Chairman of the Board of Directors H.E Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei and Head of Support Services for UAE Embassy Sultan Althabani.

Accompanying Secretary Gatchalian at the aid distribution  were Disaster Response  Management Group (DMRG) Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe and DSWD Field Office -National Capital Region (NCR) Assistant Regional Director Bienvenido Barbosa Jr.